tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1077969188816064712017-07-27T23:07:05.824-07:00Letters from Bevan ShimaiKatie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-60717394781244832662014-12-01T04:19:00.000-08:002014-12-01T04:19:59.624-08:00Last Letter! I can't believe I'm at the end of my mission!<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><div>But this week on Friday, Bowman shimai and I ended up going to Uwajima for district meeting because the zone leaders were on kokkans.&nbsp; And so it was fun to see the same sights that three previous companions have seen.&nbsp; To be in the same church that Archbold shimai, Hamilton shimai and Bowman shimai have worked in.&nbsp; Fun stuff.&nbsp; Our district leader is yanada choro.&nbsp; He's got a good heart, but sometimes he's just a grump. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Then yesterday was zone conference.&nbsp; We went up to takamatsu on sunday night.&nbsp; Stayed the night with stephenson shimai and nara shimai. Stevenson shimai is half but speaks no english at all.&nbsp; And nara shimai is well nihonjin.&nbsp; It was fun to be with them. Both of them are 5 transfer.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday, Welch shimai and kaicho talked in the morning about the Book of Mormon challenge.&nbsp; This challenge was introduced by the zone leaders at zone training meeting.&nbsp; It was to read the book of mormon with a focus.&nbsp; There are three focuses: References to the Godhead, their attributes, and their words.&nbsp; So far it's been really good. I've already read 2 copies of the book of mormon with different focuses.&nbsp; The first with a PMG focus and the second is a gospel of Jesus Christ focus.&nbsp; Both times I have seen new perspective and gained a deeper understanding of the Book of mormon.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Then in the afternoon we talked about training from the AP's about using the Book of Mormon more in our contacts and in teaching.&nbsp; Also to follow up better in lessons and to show our investigators how important our invitations are because, well, they are! &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Then at the very end, it was time to bear testimony.&nbsp; It was strange. At all the previous zone conferences I always looked at the returning missionaries and enjoyed their testimony, never even thinking that I would be the one to testify. Well, it happened.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>It was funny because the AP's were Stirling choro and Hoshino choro.&nbsp; And I was just a first transfer when we were all together in Kobe.&nbsp; Hoshino choro was training Stirling choro and district leader.&nbsp; I mentioned this in my testimony mostly to demonstrate how fast time goes by.&nbsp; Now both were APs.&nbsp; Strange.&nbsp; I admired them then and I still do. They are fantastic missionaries.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>As time has been quickly wrapping up, I've been reflecting a lot on my mission.&nbsp; And the first feeling I have is of gratitude. I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father that He called me on a mission.&nbsp; To have all of these learning opportunities.&nbsp; To learn, grow, and become stronger. A better person even. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks again.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Love, Bevan shimai</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-huiEOyyTfrw/VHxb4tCNiwI/AAAAAAAAB9M/fq7jlwnjvM0/s1600/IMG_2463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-huiEOyyTfrw/VHxb4tCNiwI/AAAAAAAAB9M/fq7jlwnjvM0/s1600/IMG_2463.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c3U2dJ71Qw0/VHxb4-KeQ5I/AAAAAAAAB9Q/WYer-wieRd4/s1600/IMG_2477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c3U2dJ71Qw0/VHxb4-KeQ5I/AAAAAAAAB9Q/WYer-wieRd4/s1600/IMG_2477.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y3BOI83NbVM/VHxb5tw3PTI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/2UMRVG4x4sA/s1600/IMG_2478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y3BOI83NbVM/VHxb5tw3PTI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/2UMRVG4x4sA/s1600/IMG_2478.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mb1Rz_eu1dc/VHxb7sZPBWI/AAAAAAAAB9k/ChZK4m80hLs/s1600/IMG_2536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mb1Rz_eu1dc/VHxb7sZPBWI/AAAAAAAAB9k/ChZK4m80hLs/s1600/IMG_2536.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah with her companion and District Leaders at Matsuyama jo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-szM3wCLFDww/VHxb7lkLrMI/AAAAAAAAB9o/fP1jBN-RiUk/s1600/IMG_2546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-szM3wCLFDww/VHxb7lkLrMI/AAAAAAAAB9o/fP1jBN-RiUk/s1600/IMG_2546.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japanese Maples starting to turn</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-22020043211763401782014-11-16T16:21:00.002-08:002014-11-16T16:21:23.744-08:00C-H-U-R-C-H<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">11-9-14</div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Once more another week has passed.&nbsp; I'm not sure if I really like this whole "time flying" thing. Not a fan.&nbsp; But I guess life moves on and so should you.&nbsp; Nor am I really looking forward to life post mission.&nbsp; School.&nbsp; Life.&nbsp; Having to live with distractions from the Spirit.&nbsp; Do I have to?&nbsp; I like this too much. &nbsp;<div><br /></div><div>So a few weeks ago, while we were out and about visiting less actives. I had the thought to go and visit a part member family. The father, a member, died within the last few years.&nbsp; So we visited and the daughter was home.&nbsp; We talked with her for a little bit and she expressed a little interest so we exchanged numbers.&nbsp; She also asked if she could invite her older brother, she said that he also might have interest. SURE.&nbsp; Invite the whole neighborhood too.&nbsp; We'll start a new branch in the port area. &nbsp;:) &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We visited again a week later and we meet the older brother.&nbsp; We talk for a little bit and end up scheduling a meeting for this past week.&nbsp; He wanted to know more about where his father went.&nbsp; He wanted to know more about eternal families and it's possible to do so.&nbsp; So we talked about the Plan of Salvation.&nbsp; We just gave a simple overview.&nbsp; It seemed to go a little bit over his head, so I know we'll have to take it step by step.&nbsp; But he really seemed to like it.&nbsp; However, the question came up of, "well, there are so many different churches.&nbsp; What's different about yours?" Well... Let me tell you. So the next lesson, we just gave a simple lesson on God, the Restoration, and the Book of Mormon.&nbsp; How a boy, who desired to know the truth for himself, wanted to know which church was God's church. Only to find out that all the churches have strayed from the heart of God.&nbsp; Amazing, isn't it?</div><div><br /></div><div>We are going to meet again this week.&nbsp; I am excited, he said that he's going to try and come to church this next week.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>On Bowman shimai's ipod, she has a bunch of talks by the apostles and by some various youth speakers. One of the speakers is John Bytheway, he is really good. &nbsp;One of his talks is about how to get more out of our sunday worship.&nbsp; I really liked it because it's so true and was really helpful.&nbsp; First of all, how many of you would like to get more spiritually fed at church?&nbsp; How many times have we sat through a meeting wishing it could just be over?&nbsp; Or slept through one??? Hmmm?&nbsp; How many times have you had the nice little red line on your forehead from sleeping on the pew.&nbsp; So I will ask you, do you want to change that?</div><div><br /></div><div>He gave a nice little acronym to help remember.&nbsp; It's CHURCH.</div><div><br /></div><div>C- Choice.&nbsp; You can chose now to change.&nbsp; You can chose to have a great time at church or you can make it one of the most tiring experiences.&nbsp; You can choose to be edified or not.&nbsp; You can choose to be happy or not.&nbsp; Choose to get enough sleep on Saturday night so that you don't sleep through the Sunday mornings.&nbsp; Does the Saviour not deserve our attention? Or love? &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>H- Holy Day.&nbsp; The Sabbath.&nbsp; Are you keeping it? Do you remember it?&nbsp; I really liked a quote he used. &nbsp;"An ox in the mire is ok on Sunday. Just be sure you didn't shove it into the mire on Saturday" &nbsp;I know that as we keep the Lord's day holy and revere it.&nbsp; Our Sunday meetings will have that much more meaning and not just going through the motions.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>This gospel is not a going through the motions gospel.&nbsp; It is a gospel of CHANGE.</div><div><br /></div><div>U- Unity.&nbsp; Kindness.&nbsp; Love.&nbsp; Greeting and loving everyone who walks through that door. You are friends with that person who walked off the street, desiring to be closer to their heavenly father.&nbsp; Can you imagine the effect it would have on a person if 350 people went and greeted and warmly welcomed a newcomer.&nbsp; Think they'll come again?&nbsp; Yes, I think so!</div><div><br /></div><div>R- Respect.&nbsp; Respect others. Respect your leaders. Our leaders spend time, tears and sleepless nights worrying about you. The least you can do is stay awake and listen.&nbsp; Not only that but support them, help them. love them.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>C- Church journal.&nbsp; Take a journal.&nbsp; Write down your thoughts. Things you liked.&nbsp; You can make a every church meeting good, if you chose to.&nbsp; I liked an experience he shared from Elder Eyring.&nbsp; A particularly boring speaker was talking and Elder Eyring was watching his father. His father was smiling and practically laughing to himself. He later asked why and his father replied "Every speaker I listen to, I teach myself. I learn something new every time." &nbsp;When was the last time you came prepared to church with questions?&nbsp; When was the last time you wrote down thoughts during church?&nbsp; Promise you it will help.&nbsp; I am also going to repent and try these out because I want to have a better time at church.</div><div><br /></div><div>H- Holy Ghost.&nbsp; The sacrament.&nbsp; Do we fully understand the meaning and significance of the sacrament? I don't have time to go into it but I would love to discuss it.&nbsp; We need the sacrament. We need that guidance of the Holy Ghost in our lives, otherwise we can be easily distracted and lose our way off the path. Not good. &nbsp; &nbsp; We don't come to church for us.&nbsp; We come to worship the Savior.&nbsp; Church is for Christ.&nbsp; Not for us to be entertained.&nbsp; Do we show our love and respect for Christ and His sacrifice?</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, that's something I learned this week. Dendo is good!</div><div><br /></div><div>Bevan shimai.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NX8mVnnfdWA/VGk-efQSLJI/AAAAAAAAB2o/Kl5ALm94noQ/s1600/IMG_2393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NX8mVnnfdWA/VGk-efQSLJI/AAAAAAAAB2o/Kl5ALm94noQ/s1600/IMG_2393.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8adLMj9UbrU/VGk-dilpCJI/AAAAAAAAB2g/v5UcPDGdss0/s1600/IMG_2396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8adLMj9UbrU/VGk-dilpCJI/AAAAAAAAB2g/v5UcPDGdss0/s1600/IMG_2396.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EucdKyLZSW4/VGk-h8KwSzI/AAAAAAAAB24/2w_kRwZlNXk/s1600/IMG_2398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EucdKyLZSW4/VGk-h8KwSzI/AAAAAAAAB24/2w_kRwZlNXk/s1600/IMG_2398.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love my name tag :))</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qd4ecKSTajQ/VGk-iV-jooI/AAAAAAAAB3A/i9h1zxeMNJ4/s1600/IMG_2414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qd4ecKSTajQ/VGk-iV-jooI/AAAAAAAAB3A/i9h1zxeMNJ4/s1600/IMG_2414.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking photos in a dry river bed!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aax6NW1lx7I/VGk-kBsIlUI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/-m1c1qeStMY/s1600/mormon-student-music-travel-language-revelation-testimony-D2KC-eng.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aax6NW1lx7I/VGk-kBsIlUI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/-m1c1qeStMY/s1600/mormon-student-music-travel-language-revelation-testimony-D2KC-eng.jpg" height="352" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowman Shimai</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DpctpwnSLsA/VGk-inwiN3I/AAAAAAAAB3E/lGmmEgmgNlg/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DpctpwnSLsA/VGk-inwiN3I/AAAAAAAAB3E/lGmmEgmgNlg/s1600/photo.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zone photo with Sister Welch!&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-719752830673970512014-11-16T16:09:00.000-08:002014-11-16T16:10:18.148-08:00This week I tried shika - Japanese deer meat with raw egg, cow intestines, boiled fish paste and fish eyes! Delicious!!<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">11-2-2014</div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Well, this week...<br /><div><br /></div><div>I definitely have been having a good time with Bowman shimai.&nbsp; The weeks are going to fly by. I feel as if the more I don't want to go home the faster time goes by. &nbsp;:( &nbsp;That's unfortunate.&nbsp; I am exhausted.&nbsp; But I love this work so much. I love to make people smile. I love to see the recognition in their eyes that they are a child of God. That there will always be someone who loves them.&nbsp; That there is a way that our burdens can be lifted and we can obtain the desires in this life and the next. All we need to do is just merely humble ourselves, drop whatever is holding us back, and grasp onto that rod.&nbsp; The rod of God. Which will never lead us astray.&nbsp; Christ is the reason. The way. The light.&nbsp; I love Him. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I definitely am in awe of Bowman shimai.&nbsp; She has no fear.&nbsp; She is lovingly bold.&nbsp; She just goes and gets things done.&nbsp; A little different than how Hamilton shimai and I did things.&nbsp; But the work carries on<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">. W</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">hile we were driving over to the port I felt like we needed to visit a family a member told us about.</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The father, a member, died a few years back. &nbsp; So we drive over and end up talking to the daughter and we switch numbers.&nbsp; I am just kind of in shock of the things that are happening.&nbsp; We are getting phone numbers. We then visit again this week and we meet the brother.&nbsp; We talk for a little bit and he's never thought about where we were before this life or where we go.&nbsp; You can tell that he's still unsure about his father's death.&nbsp; But we were able to set up an appointment for this week.&nbsp; We'll see what happens :)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I don't really have anything else to say.&nbsp; Nothing has happened yet.&nbsp; But I do know that the work we do with Less Actives and the finding that we are doing will have an effect into the eternities.&nbsp; I'm just so impressed with how Bowman shimai is able to relate to young people so quickly. I've always felt that I've never had a lot to relate to them.&nbsp; Even when I was a teenager.&nbsp; But Bowman shimai just told me, "they want to talk to you. They're just shy. Now, they may not want to talk about God. But they want to talk to you." &nbsp;Also I expressed some of my concerns with her because I didn't feel as if I was participating as much as I wanted to in streeting.&nbsp; And it ends up with the discussion of how sometimes we feel that we are just in people's way when we stop them.&nbsp; But if we think of it in a bigger picture.&nbsp; There is nothing more important to listen to than this message.&nbsp; Nothing.&nbsp; Not work. Not school. Not lunch. Just like elder scott said.&nbsp; And so it's our job to give them that chance.&nbsp; We'll see if I can improve my streeting this week.&nbsp; I'm not being rude.&nbsp; Just saving souls.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Then today we ended up going to a kenko taikai.&nbsp; We met some teenaged girls who were on the kendo team in high school.&nbsp; Cool. They told us about a taikai they had on monday.&nbsp; So we went today.&nbsp; We saw some kendo. Which is like Japanese fencing. &nbsp;really cool. We saw our friends however, I don't think they saw us.&nbsp; We tried to say hello, but they either didn't see us or were ignoring us.&nbsp; Oh well. &nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">And then we came to the church for yakiniku with some of the members. Really fun.&nbsp; It was mostly just the young couples in the branch and friends. It was great.&nbsp; Delicious. We had shika... or Japanese deer meat. Check that one off my list.&nbsp; Add it to raw egg, cow intestines, boiled fish paste, and fish eyes.&nbsp; Delicious. &nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Till next time.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Bevan Shimai</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tAjve7_rONE/VGk6ee4Pp4I/AAAAAAAAB10/nlaUvqsK50w/s1600/IMG_2353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tAjve7_rONE/VGk6ee4Pp4I/AAAAAAAAB10/nlaUvqsK50w/s1600/IMG_2353.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bevan and Bowman Shimai</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fALC-hn0n-U/VGk6f3LEH4I/AAAAAAAAB18/kpV9DPKCKBQ/s1600/IMG_2356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fALC-hn0n-U/VGk6f3LEH4I/AAAAAAAAB18/kpV9DPKCKBQ/s1600/IMG_2356.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zone Meeting</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWEfQg7g9As/VGk6jd8hVcI/AAAAAAAAB2E/1CyMb2XzfV8/s1600/IMG_2363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWEfQg7g9As/VGk6jd8hVcI/AAAAAAAAB2E/1CyMb2XzfV8/s1600/IMG_2363.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost there, can't quite reach it . . .</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QlCSsFAjiXk/VGk6kfsIqeI/AAAAAAAAB2M/jjj1qRTXupE/s1600/IMG_2373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QlCSsFAjiXk/VGk6kfsIqeI/AAAAAAAAB2M/jjj1qRTXupE/s1600/IMG_2373.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenko taikai - Japanese fencing meet</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Va7YBQ1Ha3o/VGk6mWGte2I/AAAAAAAAB2U/z_-bGm4W2lc/s1600/IMG_2380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Va7YBQ1Ha3o/VGk6mWGte2I/AAAAAAAAB2U/z_-bGm4W2lc/s1600/IMG_2380.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ward dinner!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-26266180311660096092014-10-28T20:53:00.003-07:002014-10-28T20:53:51.718-07:00"Hey sashiburi" - long time no see!<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week:</span><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Consisted of three phases</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">1. Hamilton shimai's last day in Japan. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">2. Imabari</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">3. Bowman shimai!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">On Monday. It was crazy.&nbsp; We didn't even have time to go shopping for food.&nbsp; We just did our dendo in the morning because a member wanted to spend the whole day with us.&nbsp; Afterwards we had indo curry with the choro as a last good bye.&nbsp; It was kind of sad since Sorenson choro was also transferring and we had worked together for 4 transfers. Became really good friends.&nbsp; It's amazing how many friends one makes on the mission.&nbsp; I can't wait to go to their homecomings next year.&nbsp; Then we met up with our wonderful member friend, the daughter of our 86 year old investigator.&nbsp; She told us the day before "If you want to go anywhere, PLEASE let me know".&nbsp; She was very much so hinting in a very japanese way that she wanted to be with us.&nbsp; So we called her and we went up to Dogo Onsen to get a souvenir for Hamilton shimai.&nbsp; She bought one of the door covers for her dad.&nbsp; It was pretty cool.&nbsp; Then we went off to the Ferris wheel.. Or the Ferrous wheel.&nbsp; Buh dump chu.&nbsp; We got to see the sunset from one of the highest points in japan.&nbsp; Beautiful. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Then our member friend found out that we hadn't been to a certain shopping center in masaki cho.&nbsp; It was HUGE.&nbsp; American poi.&nbsp; Litterally there was an American Eagle and I was just like "Hey, Sashiburi" &nbsp;The mall just went on forever.&nbsp; I'm not quite used to that.&nbsp; But we went to a 300 yen store which has much better quality stuff than the 100 en store. It's amazing what a difference it makes. &nbsp; Back home.. exhausted.&nbsp; As Hamilton shimai tries to stuff all of her presents into a carry on. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Then as we are trying to pack for me to go to Imabari and Hamilton shimai for home, our ping pong goes off and I look at the screen to see who it is (because in Japan, the crime rate is so "high" that everyone has a camera at their door) and I see the chorotachi trying to duck away and hide.&nbsp; We run down and say hello to them.&nbsp; They tried to ding dong ditch us.. Silly.&nbsp; Can't work in japan. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">They gave Hamilton shimai a farewell gift of food and candy. So nice of them. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Then the next morning as we were off to the eki to catch the bus to Imabari, Hamilton shimai's bike broke... again.&nbsp; And then we see the imabari bus pass by us... Oh no!&nbsp; Hamilton shimai's bike at the time, her bike tire was sticking to the side of the bike.&nbsp; The tire wasn't tightened enough.&nbsp; Oh no... So it couldn't even roll along side.&nbsp; Hamilton shimai kicked her bike so hard and it starts to roll again. She rolls her bike and starts to run. &nbsp;5 min.&nbsp; We are still a few short minutes away.. She ran and I slowly rode my bike alongside.&nbsp; I carried a few of her items. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">We made it.&nbsp; The branch kaicho, his wife and our member friend were there to say goodbye.&nbsp; It was very kind of them.&nbsp; A &nbsp;nice farewell.&nbsp; Off to Imabari. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Imabari is a happening place.&nbsp; We were hopping from place to place and lesson to lesson.&nbsp; I was very impressed.&nbsp; The days went by quickly. I was grateful mostly because I don't like being not in my area.&nbsp; It was fun to see different ways of dendo'ing.&nbsp; And we prayed A LOT. Holy cow.&nbsp; I've never prayed so much in my life.&nbsp; We prayed when we came in and out of the apartment.&nbsp; Before we did anything.&nbsp; I'm fine with prayer and such.&nbsp; But I also like doing things and having a prayer in my heart.&nbsp; Maybe this is why I'm not training and Howard shimai is.&nbsp; I have something to learn from her. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Back home in Matsuyama.&nbsp; I met Bowman shimai as she was coming up from Uwajima.&nbsp; She was very sad that Uwajima was closing.&nbsp; It was doing really well.&nbsp; Then we said goodbye to the Imabari shimai and Beane shimai as they left to go to Okayama. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">The past few days we've been just doing finding.&nbsp; It's been great.&nbsp; I love working with Bowman shimai.&nbsp; Yes, it's a little different than with Hamilton shimai.&nbsp; Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.&nbsp; I was definitely used to a way of dendo'ing for 5 months.&nbsp; But it's been fun. We've been talking to a lot of different people.&nbsp; Bowman shimai is so willing to talk to anyone and everyone.&nbsp; I've got a lot to learn from her.&nbsp; I'm not so good at that.&nbsp; I'm good at conversation and such but not at stopping people.&nbsp; It can be difficult.&nbsp; But I'm going to try and change it.&nbsp; I want to be better. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Nothing too interesting happening right now.&nbsp; But I've enjoyed talking with various people.&nbsp; One person we keep running into at the eki is this man named Lenny.&nbsp; He's a Nihonjin who likes to go to the ski-market- and talk with gaijin and practice his english.&nbsp; We tried to invite him to eikaiwa - english class- but he has no interest.&nbsp; He's met various missionaries and has come to eikaiwa in the past.... Like back in the 80s.&nbsp; But it's so funny that he tries to translate for us even though we already understand japanese just fine. &nbsp;:)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">&nbsp;He somewhat tries Bowman shimai's patience because he doesn't have really any interest and prevents her from talking to other people.&nbsp; But other than that I just try to be kind, caring, and show interest in his life.&nbsp; I know quite a bit about him even though he's not studying the church.&nbsp; Good stuff. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Still working on record keeping. &nbsp;We are trying to make sure that all of the less actives are accounted for and documented to ensure that they are visited by the ward. &nbsp;We have gone from 65 missing records down to 24! &nbsp;This is really great - so hopefully, we can get more dendo time in the next few weeks.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">I am doing my best to treasure each of the last days of my mission, I want to make the most of them. &nbsp;I am excited to be a senior shimai. &nbsp;It was sad to see so many of my friends and beloved companions leaving this week, I will miss them all and can't wait to see them again after my mission. &nbsp;Hard to believe I am now one of the most "senior" sisters in the mission! &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Have a great week, don't forget to take time to study the general conference messages and decide what changes you want to make in your lives. &nbsp;What's the point of watching 9 hours of conference without setting a few goals - lol :))</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Love you always,&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Bevan Shimai</div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-20967217941352346052014-10-18T23:21:00.000-07:002014-10-18T23:26:07.503-07:0049 days left!! O mochiro, Zone training, and General Conference!<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week has been good.&nbsp; Like all of the other weeks in the Japan Kobe Mission. &nbsp;</span><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">So that moment when you look at the calendar and you realize that you only have 49 days left O.o.&nbsp; What?! When did that happen?&nbsp; Wasn't it only yesterday that I was in Shimogamo with Tojo Shimai? Now she's going home next week with all of my other beloved companions: Pettit shimai, Archbold Shimai, Hamilton shimai.&nbsp; Beane shimai is going to stick around for a few transfers after me.&nbsp; We'll see what new companion I'll get next week. :[ &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This past week, our lovely less active friend invited us to go out in the inaka of Matsuyama and go see a Matsuri.&nbsp; Hilarious to say the least.&nbsp; Ok, I swear that the Japanese are apart of the tribe of Levi.&nbsp; I say that because I saw a lot of "Arc of the Covenant" mitai items this week.&nbsp; Then at the Matsuri they slam the arcs into each other. Great stuff.&nbsp; I took a video.&nbsp; It might be too big to send, so we'll laugh together when we see each other again. &nbsp;:)&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">But what happens is that a bunch of guys get together and lift up this arc called "O mochiro" I think.&nbsp; You'll have to double check it for me.&nbsp; I only heard the word once and I forgot to write it down. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">But then we went to go see these dragon puppet suit things they do for the kids.&nbsp; A couple of 12-13 year old kids go and get in this dragon suit.&nbsp; It's hilarious.&nbsp; And all the kids were so confused as to why we were there.&nbsp; They asked us "You're from Christ's church? (キリスト教kyo)" &nbsp;As if to say "What the heck are you doing here?" &nbsp;Well, I'll have you know that we do partcipate in cultural things, even if they are Bhuddist or Shinto.&nbsp; I believe Matsuri's have a shinto background because I saw what a Shinto priest looks like. They're rare in Japan.&nbsp; Bhuddism is far more widespread than Shintoism. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Anyway, then we had lunch at her home and shared a message about Sotaikai (general conference) and prophets.&nbsp; How they are our guides in these later days.&nbsp; Guides to our Heavenly Father's love, peace, and doing what is right.&nbsp; To help us stay on the path to eternal life, back to our loving Heavenly Father's arms.&nbsp; I only pray that at that day He'll say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week our lovely member friend invited us out to eat at a mom and pop okonomiyaki shop.&nbsp; SO GOOD!&nbsp; The best food in Japan is granma's shop.&nbsp; Don't go to chains, they just don't compare.&nbsp; And she ordered us okonomiyaki, yaki soba, yaki udon, takoyaki and such. &nbsp;:DDD &nbsp;おいしかった！</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">We also had ZTM on Friday.&nbsp; That was really good.&nbsp; Hamilton shimai said it was the best one she had been too.&nbsp; We discussed Uchtdorf 会長's talk on the Atonement and Missionary work "Fear not, for I am with thee" &nbsp; I had left my talk at the apartment and the elder sitting next to me had it in French because he's from Montreal.&nbsp; However, he speaks fluent English and was even writing his notes in english.&nbsp; So he's really Canadian. &nbsp;;P But I got to read his copy in French.&nbsp; I haven't forgotten everything!&nbsp; I could still read it.&nbsp; I just can't speak/understand/write it. ;) &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Then General Conference!!! As I have come to leave home and being at school and then a mission, my love for general conference has only increased.&nbsp; Exponentially.&nbsp; Now it's not long enough.&nbsp; I can't get enough.&nbsp; I was so sad when the Sunday afternoon session was over.&nbsp; One overriding thing that Hamilton shimai and I noticed about this session of conference was how powerful, direct, straightforward, and strong all of the talks were.&nbsp; And these three themes were throughout the whole conference: 1. Deepen your conversion 2. Follow the prophet and apostles 3. Know where you stand. &nbsp; Hamilton shimai couldn't help but wonder "What is going on?" &nbsp;It seems as if there is something going to happen in the next year or so that may not be so bright and marvelous.&nbsp; But what do you think? &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">I loved Jorg Klenbingat 長老's talk.&nbsp; Never before have I felt as if a leader was talking directly to me.&nbsp; As if the talk was made specifically for me.&nbsp; It was incredible.&nbsp; He gave the need for spiritual confidence but then continued to give advice on HOW to do so.&nbsp; Very grateful.&nbsp; I plan on applying his advice.&nbsp; As well as the other revelation I received.&nbsp; A very good weekend. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Thank you so much for everything! &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Love you so much、</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Bevan Shimai&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">ベベン姉妹</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Autumn Festival Matsuyama</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SJNpRB0n94k/VENSYrJ3rWI/AAAAAAAAB0k/kw6-EYWaYs0/s1600/IMG_2221.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SJNpRB0n94k/VENSYrJ3rWI/AAAAAAAAB0k/kw6-EYWaYs0/s1600/IMG_2221.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MP417muAFZw/VENSZPTHGSI/AAAAAAAAB0s/hjk-o5ko0Wk/s1600/IMG_2222.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MP417muAFZw/VENSZPTHGSI/AAAAAAAAB0s/hjk-o5ko0Wk/s1600/IMG_2222.jpeg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lqatMJBUcs/VENSZE9tkGI/AAAAAAAAB0w/t5Ums5vesX4/s1600/IMG_2232.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lqatMJBUcs/VENSZE9tkGI/AAAAAAAAB0w/t5Ums5vesX4/s1600/IMG_2232.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Battling shrines</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Otc_nwZ-htE/VENSZpL00tI/AAAAAAAAB00/znnlt9XWEbk/s1600/IMG_2234.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Otc_nwZ-htE/VENSZpL00tI/AAAAAAAAB00/znnlt9XWEbk/s1600/IMG_2234.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CWEITDoeEPI/VENSaq1HkKI/AAAAAAAAB1I/DUEy2qNPJMI/s1600/IMG_2237.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CWEITDoeEPI/VENSaq1HkKI/AAAAAAAAB1I/DUEy2qNPJMI/s1600/IMG_2237.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IiDpS9gK10g/VENSahDLxQI/AAAAAAAAB1E/LnUR_SEu6AY/s1600/IMG_2264.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IiDpS9gK10g/VENSahDLxQI/AAAAAAAAB1E/LnUR_SEu6AY/s1600/IMG_2264.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zone Conference!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-71241061217978909182014-10-18T22:50:00.000-07:002014-10-18T22:50:02.186-07:00Saying good-bye to Grandma Bevan<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Thank you so much for the call.&nbsp; That evening we had a branch "stake conference" in Matsuyama, thus Welch Kaicho was in Matsuyama because he's the "stake" president of the Shikoku district.&nbsp; Anyway, so after the meeting Saturday evening, I'm talking to the new senior couple in Imabari and Welch shimai and Kaicho approach the group casually.&nbsp; Then Welch Shimai just says that Welch Kaicho wanted to talk to me outside where it was more quiet.&nbsp; I just thought, ok, whatever, we had interviews earlier that day so I thought he just wanted to say some extra thing or whatever... nope..&nbsp;</span><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">He pulls me aside in the hallway and we're standing by the front entrance.&nbsp; We're apart from everyone.&nbsp; And he says that he just got the call from the office saying that my father's mother had passed away.&nbsp; And to be honest, it took me by surprise.&nbsp; I told him that I guess I was somewhat expecting it. That you had told me a few weeks ago that grandma wasn't doing so well.&nbsp; But he was very kind, very considerate.&nbsp; I felt my cheeks go red as I was holding back the tears.&nbsp; I don't think anyone could have done it any better. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Hamilton shimai saw my face get red and knew exactly what happened.&nbsp; Yes, I told her about my grandma.&nbsp; And she just thought, "Aw, man.&nbsp; Did it have to be tonight?" &nbsp; Mostly because that night there were 4 other shimai staying in our apartment because it was too far for them to get back by 8 am for interviews with Kaicho or to get to Matsuyama by 10.&nbsp; So the Nihama and Uwajima shimai got to hang out with us. &nbsp;I didn't think that I was never going to see her again in this life when I left on my mission.&nbsp; I also cried tears of joy because I know that she is finally reunited with grandpa again.&nbsp; I know she missed him terribly.&nbsp; I know she was also in a lot of pain. I'm grateful she's in a lot better place now. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">I mostly just thought of you, dad, and how badly I want to be with you during this time.&nbsp; I so badly want to hug you.&nbsp; I want to be there for the family.&nbsp; I want to be at the funeral.&nbsp; I wish I could have seen grandma again, &nbsp;but I guess it's just not meant to be.&nbsp; I know I'm supposed to be here. I'm so sorry dad.&nbsp; I love you so much and I know that it's difficult for you at this time. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Even though I am thousands of miles away and currently serving my Lord and Savior, I desire to be there with all of you.&nbsp; I will miss grandma but I know that she is in a better place.&nbsp; A happier, pain free place, once more with her beloved husband.&nbsp; There is hope in God's plan.&nbsp; I have hope that I will see her again.&nbsp; I also know that I will see grandpa bevan as well.&nbsp; I cannot wait to talk with them both.&nbsp; Until we meet again. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Bevan Shimai</div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-64979262336509721802014-10-18T22:24:00.000-07:002014-10-18T22:24:32.985-07:00Aki Matsuri (Autumn Festival)<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week has been really good,&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">We found a PI this week.&nbsp; She's a bartender. She told us she would like to meet again but didn't have time this week.&nbsp; Hamilton shimai and I found her nearby the Matsuyama park.&nbsp; We had just finished talking to someone else who didn't have a lot of interest.&nbsp; And while we're walking down we see this girl waiting for the light to turn green.&nbsp; She had an awesome cheetah print scarf so I complimented her on it and start talking and we find out about her job and that she actually doesn't like to drink.&nbsp; Cool. We can start with that ;) &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">However, funny thing is that while we were going through records this week, her name matched with a less active name.&nbsp; Not sure if the same person. But the ages seem to be the same.&nbsp; Going to confirm if it is the same or not.&nbsp; But that would be so cool :)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Then this weekend was interviews and our chihoubu taikai.&nbsp; Chihoubu taikai is just like stake conference but on a branch level.&nbsp; So all together there were about 120-150 people.&nbsp; I was like "holy cow this is a lot of people" But then I thought about how back home there are about 300 people who come to church every week and I slightly peed my pants.&nbsp; However, it gave me a vision as to what I want Matsuyama to become.&nbsp; I want that branch to use every single chair in that building for church.&nbsp; We'll get there. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Then we did interviews differently this time.&nbsp; Welch kaicho just had people come at certain appointed times during the day.&nbsp; Had the interview and then have people go about and dendo.&nbsp; Except with Matsuyama, traveling is the most difficult in the entire mission.&nbsp; It's an average of about 2 1\2 hours to get to different areas in the zone such as: Nihama, Kouchi, and Uwajima.&nbsp; Imabari is only an hour away.&nbsp; Anyway, the idea is to save time, except with Matsuayama you'll spend the whole day traveling anyway.&nbsp; But mah, we're the only zone in the whole mission to have this issue... yeah... Then during saturday the imabari shimai came to our apartment and just studied and prepared for investigators and did weekly planning, while Hamilton shimai and I stressed over records and making sure all that the less actives have been visited.&nbsp; We have about 120 left to visit but we have 63 missing papers.&nbsp; Don't worry about it.. we're working on it. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Then that afternoon we got to watch the Relief Society Broadcast.&nbsp; So all of the shimai of the entire zone were there and Welch shimai.&nbsp; There was a room for Japanese but no english. So we all squished into the computer room and watched it there.&nbsp; Really enjoyed the korean children singing.&nbsp; You could tell that the 12 year olds were bored out of their minds and that the 3 year olds were so excited to be there.&nbsp; But really cute!&nbsp; The dresses they were wearing look like a more relaxed form of a kimono.&nbsp; You can breath in those.&nbsp; Kimono's are a lot more taihen.&nbsp; You have to wear an obo that prevents you from breathing and having a body shape.&nbsp; Anyway!&nbsp; Back to dendo...</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">So we had a great big sleep over at the Matsuyama shimai apartment.&nbsp; There were 6 of us with 4 futons.&nbsp; We snuggled and luckily there was a breeze that evening that kept us cool with fresh air.&nbsp; Hamilton shimai was kind enough to make beef stew for everyone and french toast the next morning.&nbsp; She's the best.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">At the chihoubu taikai, one of the speakers was the previous okayama mission president.&nbsp; Back when there was an okayama mission.&nbsp; On Saturday night he gave a presentation on the Atonement of Jesus Christ.&nbsp; He came to the floor and had a power point presentation.&nbsp; He opened the congregation up to discussion and it seemed to be more open and more of a discussion rather than a speech.&nbsp; Which was nice.&nbsp; I like those more than talks.&nbsp; We read together Alma 7:11-16 and discussed the meaning.&nbsp; How Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.&nbsp; How He suffered our pains, weaknesses, infirmities and sins all for the sake that we may return to our loving Heavenly Father.&nbsp; I know I am definitely imperfect.&nbsp; But I trust that through the Savior's Atonement that there is no wound he cannot heal.&nbsp; No dark to bring to light.&nbsp; Nothing is too hard for our Savior.&nbsp; I will be forever grateful for his sacrifice so that my family and I can have eternal joy and life.&nbsp; All He asks us to do is follow Him.&nbsp; Which I will do with all my heart.&nbsp; I have only found healing, joy, forgiveness, improvement, and peace in this gospel.&nbsp; I know it is true with every fiber of my being. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">My interview with Kaicho was good.&nbsp; We talked about how he's going to change when returning missionaries go home during the week and how I will still probably get out on the 2nd since my family is coming.&nbsp; I just probably won't be with the whole group.&nbsp; Which is fine.&nbsp; Not a big deal.&nbsp; And it's nothing permanent yet.&nbsp; However there will be 30 leaving with my doki in order to return to school.&nbsp; Yikes.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">I asked him why Hamilton shimai and I were together for 4 transfers, because I only know of 2 other companionships to do so: Deklirk shimai and strong shimai and then Lofthouse shimai and Hayashi shimai.&nbsp; So I feel somewhat honored.&nbsp; And grateful to work with someone whom I will be friends with forever.&nbsp; We will send each other New Year Newsletters ;) &nbsp;But he told me that he doesn't see a need to transfer people if they love their area and their companion.&nbsp; Makes sense.&nbsp; This mission may see more shimai together for longer.&nbsp; He said that he only transfers people if they don't get along. &nbsp; I also found out that the mission is going to lose half of it's shimai.&nbsp; I hope that Matsuyama is not going to be closed for shimai.&nbsp; I asked him not to. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Also, today Hamilton shimai and I went shopping.&nbsp; We always walk through the shotengai to talk with people but never able to actually go in the shops. So we did that today.&nbsp; However, there was some sort of Bhuddist parade going on in the shotengai.&nbsp; There were a bunch of families and adults and kids were carrying something that looked like kamisamano ie.&nbsp; But I don't know.&nbsp; I tried to ask someone but they didn't know either :P.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">That's about it for the week. Thank you so much for your love and support.&nbsp; Time is going by fast.&nbsp; I cannot believe it.&nbsp; I have loved my mission and so grateful for the experiences I've had.&nbsp; They have made me a better, happier person. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Love always, Bevan Shimai</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">P.S I may be writing next week on Tuesday.&nbsp; Still waiting for permission but we have 2 lessons next week on Monday.&nbsp; With traveling included that would be from 1-6 pm of traveling and teaching.&nbsp; So Hamilton shimai and I were thinking of just switching our preparation day to tuesday to make it less stressful on us.&nbsp; But... we have to get permission first.&nbsp; I don't know if we'll receive word or not before 6. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Times;"><center><table border="0" style="width: 700px;"><tbody><tr align="left" valign="top"><td align="left" valign="top"><h2><center><table border="0" style="width: 700px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left"><span><span style="color: teal;"><span style="color: navy;"><span style="color: #942c14;"><span><span style="color: teal;"><span style="color: navy;"><span style="color: #942c14;"><span><span style="color: teal;"><span style="color: navy;"><span style="color: #942c14;"><b><span><span style="color: navy;">MATSUYAMA AKI MATSURI (Local Autumn Festival)</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span style="color: teal;"><span style="color: navy;"><span style="color: #942c14;"><span><span style="color: teal;"><span style="color: navy;"><span style="color: #942c14;"><span><span style="color: teal;"><span style="color: navy;"><span style="color: #942c14;"><b><span style="color: navy;"><span>Matsuyama City&nbsp;<span style="color: teal;">Oct. 5-7&nbsp;</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span style="color: teal;"><span style="color: navy;"><span style="color: #942c14;"><span><span style="color: teal;"><span style="color: navy;"><span style="color: #942c14;"><span><span style="color: teal;"><span style="color: navy;"><span><span style="color: navy;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="color: navy;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="color: navy;"><span style="color: teal;"><span style="color: #942c14;">Held all over Matsuyama at neighborhood shrines. On the evenings of the 5th and 6th children carry small portable shrines through their neighborhood asking for gifts from each household. They chant and carry lanterns to light their way.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #942c14;">Autumn festivals are held all over Japan and people thank the god for the harvest and their health. Visitors often wonder why the gods are treated so roughly in many of the festivals listed below. It is a way of showing one's determination and bravery for the benefit of the gods. One's sincerity is reflected in the vigorous handling of mikoshi (portable shrines).</span></td></tr></tbody></table></center></h2></td></tr></tbody></table></center></b></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ed3-tETaHc/VENGH6Kn5EI/AAAAAAAABz0/JSZTpUR2sD8/s1600/IMG_2208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ed3-tETaHc/VENGH6Kn5EI/AAAAAAAABz0/JSZTpUR2sD8/s1600/IMG_2208.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hamilton Shimai getting ready to enter The WORLD</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vRjlEAB7Yls/VENGJbu-egI/AAAAAAAABz8/-bFq8iqgKwk/s1600/IMG_2211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vRjlEAB7Yls/VENGJbu-egI/AAAAAAAABz8/-bFq8iqgKwk/s1600/IMG_2211.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matsuyama Matsuri or festival with a parade in front of the shotengai - street shops</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NZJq8oYHpqo/VENGKcEWQdI/AAAAAAAAB0E/7205hP6Euzk/s1600/IMG_2212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NZJq8oYHpqo/VENGKcEWQdI/AAAAAAAAB0E/7205hP6Euzk/s1600/IMG_2212.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here comes the dragon!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1zYSUYf3NaY/VENGLvFdOkI/AAAAAAAAB0M/m99sZQe0dQ8/s1600/IMG_2216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1zYSUYf3NaY/VENGLvFdOkI/AAAAAAAAB0M/m99sZQe0dQ8/s1600/IMG_2216.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japanese children carrying the mikoshi (portable shrine)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X77o-cUhzEo/VENGNe0V9HI/AAAAAAAAB0U/xLfGtwv6IJ4/s1600/IMG_2219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X77o-cUhzEo/VENGNe0V9HI/AAAAAAAAB0U/xLfGtwv6IJ4/s1600/IMG_2219.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children sitting atop a mikoshi lighted with lanterns at each corner</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-76211639120042852452014-09-30T23:40:00.000-07:002014-09-30T23:40:12.435-07:00Or how we like to sing "Bicycle" by Queen . . . <span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Ok, maybe I should be a little bit more focused ;)</span><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">But this week... What to say...</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">I finally finished my Book of Mormon with highlights according to: restoration, plan of salvation, gospel of Jesus Christ, commandments, and ordinances.&nbsp; As well as references to Christ and His words.&nbsp; You can say that 3 Nephi is marked up pretty well... But definitely have learned a lot with a specific focus as I studied the Book of Mormon.&nbsp; I have seen new insights, and how much doctrine the Book of Mormon holds.&nbsp; It's awesome!&nbsp; Now I've started again except with a focus on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.&nbsp; Highlighting according to faith, repentence, baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End.&nbsp; Good stuff.&nbsp; I'm still learning and I've just started over.&nbsp; Hopefully I'll finish this version by December.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">I also am so grateful for my lovely companion, Hamilton shimai.&nbsp; I feel as if I could go on about her all day.&nbsp; But you or I do not have time for that.&nbsp; I am just so grateful that we are always on the same page.&nbsp; We are practically the same person.&nbsp; In fact it surprises people when we speak in unision.&nbsp; Exact phrasing and everything. So fun.&nbsp; Or how we like to sing "Bicycle" by Queen on really long bike rides.&nbsp; And that we just goofily bounce on our seats and ring our bells according to the song.&nbsp; Makes dendo a lot more fun. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week however we went down to Iyo shi to visit some more less actives.&nbsp; In fact one of them was a gaijin.&nbsp; His name was Eric.&nbsp; And the first time we tried visiting, the front door to this school/clinic was open and we saw pictures of him and his family on a bulletin board.&nbsp; This time we got to meet him.&nbsp; He has lived in Japan for the past 22 years.&nbsp; Married a nihonjin and had a family.&nbsp; He has two daughters.&nbsp; One is 15 and the other is 13.&nbsp; Recently the 13 year old visited Salem so I got to see all of her photos and it was a little fun to see that she went to places I had been to.&nbsp; Apparently Iyo shi and salem, Oregon are sister cities.&nbsp; Just like Matsuyama and Sacramento are sister cities.&nbsp; Fun fact of the day. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Anyway, we just started talking about how he came in contact with the church because he was baptized when he was 8.&nbsp; However, he told us that he was never really truly converted and I don't think it helped that his uncle's family (whom he stayed with for a number of months) was this peter priesthood and molly mormon family... who only watched television when it was conference...&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">But his whole family went inactive.&nbsp; He ended up moving to Japan to teach English.&nbsp; Went to the branch once with the mormon teacher he replaced and then never went again.&nbsp; But we had a great discussion.&nbsp; I honestly think the purpose of meeting was to show him that LDS people are normal people.&nbsp; We ended up talking about good books for his daughters to read.&nbsp; Movies.&nbsp; TV shows and such.&nbsp; But it was nice to talk in English.&nbsp; He even said it was ok for us to come again.&nbsp; His daughters seemed to really want us to come again and the wife wasn't hantai at all and was very kind.&nbsp; He's had missionary friends before so I think he knows whats up but seems fine with it. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Tonight we are driving up to Takamatsu for the Ringwood taikai tomorrow.&nbsp; The meeting starts at 9 and no one on this entire side of the mission can get there early enough. So everyone will be traveling tonight.&nbsp; Yeah... I am going to be bringing my ear plugs and melotonin and pillow. Should be good.&nbsp; However in preparation for the taikai they have asked us to read Moroni 7.&nbsp; It's a letter from Mormon to his son Moroni primarily discussing the light of Christ, faith, hope and charity.&nbsp; That all good things come from God.&nbsp; All things that are uplifting, bring light into our lives, the sunset after a long day, the sunrise after a long night, music that makes you happy, the Book of Mormon, a welcoming smile are of God. How intertwined faith and hope are.&nbsp; Hamilton shimai and I discussed which came first "faith or hope".&nbsp; We came to the conclusion that faith comes first.&nbsp; For in order to hope you need to first believe that it exists.&nbsp; Such as hope in the resurrection. &nbsp;(which my hope has only solidified on my mission.&nbsp; You should see our backs sing the song of its people every morning).&nbsp; You can't have hope in the resurrection if you don't have faith in Christ.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Anyway, hope all is well in the land of California and the states.&nbsp; Good luck with everything. Know that you are loved by our Father who lives in Heaven.&nbsp; This life is not just a game of chance.&nbsp; It has purpose.&nbsp; The struggles we face are specified to us and our needs.&nbsp; Our Heavenly Father is involved in our lives.&nbsp; We just need to open our eyes a little wider than the next day. &nbsp; Pray.&nbsp; He is there.&nbsp; He is listening.&nbsp; He wants to hear from you.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Love Always, Bevan Shimai</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">pictures: Another breath taking sunset.&nbsp; I swear, Shikoku has the best sunsets ever!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">A bride and groom while we were streeting near dogo koen</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HsNvut0bzEg/VCuhj9bp0RI/AAAAAAAABzA/36LAR6eugDI/s1600/IMG_2181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HsNvut0bzEg/VCuhj9bp0RI/AAAAAAAABzA/36LAR6eugDI/s1600/IMG_2181.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cwdBaFsKGpA/VCuhjfOIs2I/AAAAAAAABy0/OG6HIghqC1M/s1600/IMG_2184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cwdBaFsKGpA/VCuhjfOIs2I/AAAAAAAABy0/OG6HIghqC1M/s1600/IMG_2184.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_2q1T4X93x8/VCuhjfy0V0I/AAAAAAAABy4/OS-i0_sjV4A/s1600/IMG_2188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_2q1T4X93x8/VCuhjfy0V0I/AAAAAAAABy4/OS-i0_sjV4A/s1600/IMG_2188.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-5162988633434632532014-09-30T23:34:00.001-07:002014-09-30T23:34:26.272-07:00Be still my soul . . .<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week has been good.&nbsp; Lots of biking.&nbsp; We were able to teach our lovely investigators.&nbsp; Unfortunately this week we had an investigator who we stopped meeting with.&nbsp; She told us at our last meeting that she was going to be busy until May... Well.. Neither one of us are going to be in Japan at that point.&nbsp; She then said that she was going to be busy going in and out of the hospital and not able to meet.&nbsp; I will miss her.&nbsp; She's about 87 years old and had some sort of medical condition that I didn't fully understand (my medical vocabulary is a little lacking) and I'm not sure if she'll make it to may.&nbsp; She definitely has a place in my heart.&nbsp; Hamilton shimai and I found her.&nbsp; She told us she didn't want any other missionaries to visit her.&nbsp; She loves us.&nbsp; Every time we visit she says she loves the clean, beautiful feeling that she feels in her heart.&nbsp; I'm not sure what will happen. &nbsp;'Till we meet again.&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But this week, I love it when new investigators just pop out of the woodwork.&nbsp; This week as we were streeting in a park, I see a man on his bike rubber necking.&nbsp; I just wave, smile and say "hello" &nbsp;He pulls over (That NEVER happens) and talks to us.&nbsp; Apparently he was a previous investigator.&nbsp; However, he didn't show any interest and we went on our way.&nbsp; We continue streeting and keep going and loop back through the park.&nbsp; On the way through the park, he sees us again. Stops us and asks "do you have time?" &nbsp;Yes.&nbsp; We do!&nbsp; So we got a new investigator that day.&nbsp; Never had that experience before.&nbsp; So grateful to Heavenly Father.&nbsp; He will put the elect in our paths!</div></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I guess during my mission I've always thought that skill is heavily related to the ability to find new investigators. But it's not. It's about how well you apply the principles in Preach My Gospel.&nbsp; Do you have the faith to find?&nbsp; Do you believe that Heavenly Father will lead those who are ready to listen in your path.&nbsp; Do you follow the Spirit?&nbsp; All excellent questions.&nbsp; A good finder is not someone who has the courage to chase people down the street but to have the boldness to follow the spirit and talk to those he feels the need to talk to. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Then this week Hamilton shimai actually got separated.&nbsp; It was getting dark and Hamilton shimai crosses a street before a bunch of cars come up.&nbsp; She keeps driving down the street while I wait for traffic to clear.&nbsp; About 3-5 minutes pass and I finally cross the street.&nbsp; I get to a main interesection and I don't see Hamilton shimai anywhere and I just slightly panic and I think "oh, she'll come back in the next 10 min." &nbsp;So I wait 10 min.&nbsp; She doesn't show up.&nbsp; A part of me is thinking "how long is it going to take for her to notice that I'm not there?" &nbsp;So I go up to a hotel thinking they'd let me use their phone.&nbsp; Apparently not.&nbsp; A tad disappointing.&nbsp; I tried to use the pay phone in the corner of the lobby but no luck.... It looked like only international calls. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So I go outside back to the intersection.&nbsp; I don't see her anywhere.&nbsp; I think all right, maybe she went this way.&nbsp; So I bike down and all of a sudden I see the chorotachi.&nbsp; Ok, it's really rare for us to see the chorotachi so frequently during the day.&nbsp; Usually we never see them while we're dendoing.&nbsp; This was the third time.&nbsp; I pull them over and I ask to use their phone.&nbsp; At this point it's been 20 minutes.&nbsp; My hands are shaking from the adrenaline and unable to even type in my number.&nbsp; Sorenson choro asks if I wanted him to call her.&nbsp; I hand him the phone.&nbsp; He dials the number and passes the phone to me.&nbsp; Hamilton answers in the normal way, thinking it was the chorotachi.&nbsp; I could tell she was trying to remain cool.&nbsp; We arrange for a rendez-vous point.&nbsp; I thank the chorotachi, tell them about our find and head up to the rendez vous point.&nbsp; So it was all good.&nbsp; It was so strange to be seperated from my companion for 30 minutes.&nbsp; I've heard of companions being separeted/lost for over 2 hours and I think, "Can you not just stop at someone's house to use the phone?" &nbsp;Anyway...&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The Ringwood Conference was really good.&nbsp; I ended up performing a musical number with Boman shimai and beane shimai (in Uwajima) and Heimuli shimai in Nihama.&nbsp; But more about that later.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Really good taikai.&nbsp; In the morning Welch shimai and Welch kaicho spoke.&nbsp; Then Ringwood shimai, the daughter of Elder Nelson, spoke. She looks very similar to him, but still feminine.&nbsp; She gave a very nice talk on being a light to everyone.&nbsp; That people can sense something is different about you. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Then Ringwood kaicho spoke.&nbsp; Except he took a step off the stand and just stood in front of everyone and worked with a white board.&nbsp; Then told us to not worry about the time, yes he was going to go over time.&nbsp; I honestly don't remember what he talked about.&nbsp; I remember he talked about Alma 36 and Alma 26:22.&nbsp; What was interesting though is that at the beginning everyone got to shake his hand but during that time he took the time to memorize a certain number of missionaries names.&nbsp; Then if no one would raise their hand he would just call out a name.&nbsp; He tried to call on me but instead said "Ellsworth shimai" I told him that Ellsworth shimai was in the front.&nbsp; He got me later. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Then as we were about to break for lunch Stirling choro was going to give us 40 minutes for lunch.&nbsp; However, Ringwood kaicho cuts him off and says "give them an hour".. Ringwood Kaicho just got the hearts of over a hundred missionaries.&nbsp; It made everyone very happy.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">After lunch Boman shimai, Beane shimai, and Heimuli shimai performed "Be still my soul" accompanied by me.&nbsp; It was an arrangement.&nbsp; One of the prettiest I've heard. It has the melody a little bit rearranged for a soloist.&nbsp; So there is a high A in there... Could not sing this song to save my life but Boman shimai has the voice of an angel.&nbsp; She also added parts to it so that multiple shimai could sing at once (the arrangement is a solo piece).&nbsp; It was beautiful and rich with voice.&nbsp; And the accompaniment was also really good.&nbsp; I really enjoyed playing it and practicing it.&nbsp; Afterwards everyone told us how much they loved listening to it.&nbsp; They said it was one of the best musical performances they've ever heard before at church.... Yoshi! &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The afternoon session was a question and answer session.&nbsp; Everyone asked some good questions.&nbsp; For the homework we were asked to read Moroni 7 to prepare for the taikai. So I asked about the relationship between faith and hope.&nbsp; Because Moroni says that neither hope is without faith as faith is nai without hope.&nbsp; And then you have Alma who says hope comes before faith.&nbsp; So I wanted to know what his opinion was.&nbsp; He said that there were two kinds of hope.&nbsp; The hope to believe and the hope that comes of faith.&nbsp; An abiding hope in the Resurrection of Christ and the Resurrection to come.&nbsp; In Eternal Life and such.&nbsp; And that faith comes from the hope or desire to believe.&nbsp; And that as we are faithful we will have the hope in the good things in life.&nbsp; That there is a light at the end of the tunnel. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This week I have been also thinking about the meaning of happiness. &nbsp;What does it mean to you to be truly happy? &nbsp;I've studied it in the scriptures and it mostly defines happiness as people rejoicing in the Lord their God. &nbsp;The prophet Mormon states that joy comes to those who are penitent and humble, those who are true in heart and purpose. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Last week I had to prepare a talk in church on humility. &nbsp;My favorite scripture from this experience was Numbers 12:3 that describes Moses as the most meek man upon the entire earth. &nbsp;Have you ever thought of meek when you think of Moses - someone who was a mighty prophet able to part the Red Sea and save thousands of Israelites. &nbsp;But Moses was meek in that he understood who he was, his role. &nbsp;He was Moses, not God. He knew that God would take care of him. &nbsp;He trusted God and knew his will. &nbsp;And he was able to use his priesthood power to part the Red Sea and to perform many miracles. &nbsp;So my biggest frustration with this talk is that when I was speaking - no one was listening! &nbsp;To start with you have a little boy who is fussing and whining that he is HOT - his mom finally takes him out of the room. &nbsp;Then they come back in. &nbsp;Then one of the members who brings his own standing fan to church gets up while I am speaking and moves his fan over to the little boy. &nbsp;But then one of the older more frail sisters starts to complain that now she is cold. So now the branch president's wife asks them to move the fan. &nbsp;So this man gets up again and moves the fan. &nbsp;And at one point during all this commotion, I stood still and stopped talking because No One was paying attention! &nbsp;And then I waited for every one to get seated again. &nbsp;Afterwards, I felt so frustrated. &nbsp;I almost cried because I was so upset. &nbsp;I felt like everyone was ignoring me on purpose. &nbsp;But hey, it's over and I've moved on. &nbsp;Most of the members came up to me and complimented me on my talk. &nbsp;No one even corrected my Japanese! &nbsp;Anyway, life is good. &nbsp;I guess we all get tested everyday, different challenges and frustrations. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But funny moment of the week:</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So I asked the chorotachi for our new investigator's old teaching record and their response was:</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Elders: &nbsp;"<img alt="&lt;1AC.gif&gt;" class="Apple-web-attachment" goomoji="ezweb_ne_jp.1AC" src="cid:AB35280A-16B4-4EE5-B30B-211F54B75344@domain_not_set.invalid" style="margin: 0px 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" />NEVER<img alt="&lt;1AC.gif&gt;" class="Apple-web-attachment" goomoji="ezweb_ne_jp.1AC" src="cid:AB35280A-16B4-4EE5-B30B-211F54B75344@domain_not_set.invalid" style="margin: 0px 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" />"</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sisters: &nbsp;"<img alt="&lt;1AB.gif&gt;" class="Apple-web-attachment" goomoji="ezweb_ne_jp.1AB" src="cid:398B2C77-38A1-4DDC-B46A-43A576634983@domain_not_set.invalid" style="margin: 0px 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" />Wipe your tears on your skirt and bring us the record.&nbsp;<img alt="&lt;1B3.gif&gt;" class="Apple-web-attachment" goomoji="ezweb_ne_jp.1B3" src="cid:22588D6D-7A18-41F6-ACAD-4BE946D6EEBC@domain_not_set.invalid" style="margin: 0px 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" /><img alt="&lt;335.gif&gt;" class="Apple-web-attachment" goomoji="ezweb_ne_jp.335" src="cid:35EA3906-68D4-4C97-8113-1DC92514AF59@domain_not_set.invalid" style="margin: 0px 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" />"</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sisters: &nbsp;"Alma 54:7-9,13"</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sisters: &nbsp;"Alma 30:16, 60:28, 54:11, 60:36"</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Elders: &nbsp;"Ok, we'll bring the record"</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sisters: &nbsp;"Alma 39:7-9, 13; Proverbs 24:33"</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Never get into a battle with shimai when scripture pride is on the line!!&nbsp; It gave us a nice laugh.&nbsp; Hope it gives you one too.</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Love you alll, thank you!</div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Bevan Shimai&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">P.S all the spiders in the electrical lines</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">sunset!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOVGLnd--CQ/VCuaIupWf8I/AAAAAAAAByg/8k023jiZgp8/s1600/IMG_2194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOVGLnd--CQ/VCuaIupWf8I/AAAAAAAAByg/8k023jiZgp8/s1600/IMG_2194.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful sunset!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHyJ_o7cQQU/VCuaKESUhHI/AAAAAAAAByo/q1aomkDczKk/s1600/IMG_2195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHyJ_o7cQQU/VCuaKESUhHI/AAAAAAAAByo/q1aomkDczKk/s1600/IMG_2195.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HOW MANY SPIDERS CAN YOU COUNT??</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-88940127163295396932014-09-20T10:10:00.001-07:002014-09-20T11:19:20.069-07:00"The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men"<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /><div><br /></div><div>This week has been good. &nbsp;We went out. We worked hard. &nbsp;We did our best. &nbsp;Granted, we don't always see the fruits of our labors, but I like to imagine myself as one who plants seeds, weeds, flowers - I do a lot of planting, just not a lot of harvesting! &nbsp;But I am working on my patience, maybe by the time my mission ends I will have learned a few things about watching and waiting and letting the Lord take care of the rest.<br /><br />This last week was zone conference - We discussed an interesting scripture Hebrews 11:32-40. &nbsp;It talks about how people through their faith have seen miracles and performed miracles and how good things make the faithful strong and valiant. &nbsp;But in contrast God also reminds us that he gives us sufferings and loss, because without loss and pain we cannot be made perfect. &nbsp;So when we feel that we are suffering or that life is too hard, remember that this is to help us strengthen our faith and that this is an opportunity to become stronger and more perfect. &nbsp;I was also grateful for the reminder that it is better to do small works of righteousness everyday than perform great miracles once in awhile.<br /><br />Hamilton shimai and I finally got a new investigator this week. &nbsp;Yay! She is a wonderful sister who was baptized about 10 years ago, active for a few years, her son was baptized about 3-4 years ago but then they shortly went less active. &nbsp;The first lesson we shared with her was back in July and her son was there. &nbsp;We just talked about what they experienced when they were baptized, what did they feel, what they remember, and such. &nbsp;Discussing the Holy Ghost and the importance of the sacrament, just a little bit. &nbsp;However, the mother at the end wasn't very interested in us and seemed more interested in getting us out. :[ &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>But we decided to visit her again and she let us in and we just started to talk and she shared with us an experience which I guess changed her mind about us. &nbsp;She told us that as she was feeling a bit lonely and sad she saw an old scripture calendar the missionaries had given her that was on the floor. &nbsp; She sees it, picks it up, and looks at the scriptures she's read and decides to read the next one. &nbsp;And it touches her heart in a way I do not know. &nbsp;She told us she couldn't remember which scripture it was but that it really helped her. &nbsp;Book of Mormon is true, folks. &nbsp;Somehow the scripture opened her heart up to once more have an interest in church and the gospel. &nbsp;She just has a crazy job where she cannot control her hours. &nbsp; So that's something we'll have to work with. &nbsp;But in all words, a good day.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>This week I also had to give a talk on humility. &nbsp;As always the speaker learned a lot more than the hearers. &nbsp;To start off:</div><div>1 Corinthians 1:25</div><div><span class="" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span class="" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div><div><span class="" id="chunk240001" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Because&nbsp;</span><span class="" id="chunk240002" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the&nbsp;</span><sup class="" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="" id="chunk240003" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a</span></sup><a class="" href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/1-cor/1?lang=eng#" id="footnote38" rel="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/footnote?lang=eng&amp;volumeUri=nt&amp;bookUri=1-cor&amp;chapterUri=1&amp;noteID=25a" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #486fae; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="" id="chunk240004" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">foolishness</span></a><span class="" id="chunk240005" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">&nbsp;of&nbsp;</span><span class="" id="chunk240006" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">God&nbsp;</span><span class="" id="chunk240007" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">is&nbsp;</span><span class="" id="chunk240008" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">wiser&nbsp;</span><span class="" id="chunk240009" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">than&nbsp;</span><span class="" id="chunk240010" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">men;&nbsp;</span><span class="" id="chunk240011" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and&nbsp;</span><span class="" id="chunk240012" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the&nbsp;</span><span class="" id="chunk240013" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">weakness&nbsp;</span><span class="" id="chunk240014" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">of&nbsp;</span><span class="" id="chunk240015" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">God&nbsp;</span><span class="" id="chunk240016" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">is&nbsp;</span><span class="" id="chunk240017" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">stronger&nbsp;</span><span class="" id="chunk240018" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">than&nbsp;</span><span class="" id="chunk240019" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">men.</span></div><div><span class="" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span class="" style="background-color: #f9f6ed; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div><div>God is God. &nbsp;We are not. &nbsp;We do not know all things. &nbsp;He does. &nbsp;He controls the heavens and the earth and we are in his hands. &nbsp;He is our loving Heavenly Father and he knows each one of us on an individual level. &nbsp;He loves us on a personal level. &nbsp;He is involved in our lives if we just let Him. &nbsp;It is our job to be humble for we are lower than the dust of the earth. &nbsp;For even the dust of the earth is obedient to our Heavenly Father. &nbsp;We are not. &nbsp;We sin. &nbsp;We make mistakes. &nbsp;We forget our God and turn away from his outstretched arms. &nbsp;He is a forgiving, kind, merciful, omnipotent, patient God. &nbsp;We are not. &nbsp;But we can get there. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't not understand the ways of my Heavenly Father. &nbsp;I do not understand His thoughts. &nbsp; His ways are higher than mine and his thoughts are higher than my thoughts. &nbsp;I do not understand why everything that's happened in my life, happened. &nbsp; &nbsp;But I know that I will understand in the end. &nbsp;I just have to wait. &nbsp;Here's to patience and enduring well! <br /><br />Today we went to the Zoo in Matsuyama. It was actually pretty good. &nbsp;It's better than the SLC zoo :P &nbsp;it was fun, I really enjoyed myself and it wasn't too hot so all the animals were out and about!</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Bevan Shimai<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8yfeKN6MWis/VB3EV-JAN_I/AAAAAAAABxs/3aOuxvibPDE/s1600/IMG_2151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8yfeKN6MWis/VB3EV-JAN_I/AAAAAAAABxs/3aOuxvibPDE/s1600/IMG_2151.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H09w5jr4sz4/VB3EV9XkRrI/AAAAAAAABxo/ykZf1s0HYsE/s1600/IMG_2146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H09w5jr4sz4/VB3EV9XkRrI/AAAAAAAABxo/ykZf1s0HYsE/s1600/IMG_2146.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yikes!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WmzcsE1PQw/VB3EWTMifRI/AAAAAAAABx0/u5gQEo0nNGU/s1600/IMG_2160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WmzcsE1PQw/VB3EWTMifRI/AAAAAAAABx0/u5gQEo0nNGU/s1600/IMG_2160.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EIe7wJftpyg/VB3EY6wj7mI/AAAAAAAAByE/cOPORHnx6i0/s1600/IMG_2172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EIe7wJftpyg/VB3EY6wj7mI/AAAAAAAAByE/cOPORHnx6i0/s1600/IMG_2172.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dVwzZiqclP0/VB3EX1p4UFI/AAAAAAAAByA/zzVeuNsqzK8/s1600/whitneyimabariaug10a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dVwzZiqclP0/VB3EX1p4UFI/AAAAAAAAByA/zzVeuNsqzK8/s1600/whitneyimabariaug10a.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zone takai</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-8516123451568116642014-09-20T09:48:00.003-07:002014-09-20T09:49:18.372-07:00The spiders on Shikoku are so much genkier!<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">So the big news is . . . . Hamilton shimai and I are staying in Matsuyama for 4 transfers!!! *_*</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Wow - Like I said, never been with someone for 3 transfers let alone 4 transfers. &nbsp;Feeling very blessed because I wouldn't want to be with anyone else for 6 months. Kind of fun to see the entire zone change except for you and your companion. &nbsp;Hamilton shimai has been in the Matsuyama zone for 8 transfers. &nbsp;She's been in the Uwajima district for 8 transfers. &nbsp;(she was in Uwajima before) and now is going to have spent half of her mission in matsuyama. &nbsp;My prediction is that I will finish my mission in Matsuyama. &nbsp;And I'll have spent 1 transfer in Kobe, 2 in Akou, 4 in Shimogamo and maybe 5 in Matsuyama.. we'll see. &nbsp;Maybe I'll gypsy? &nbsp;(spending only 1 transfer in an area).&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week was a week of a lot of bike riding. &nbsp;So now that a lot of the near by people are those who are never home we are starting to go to farther places. Yesterday, we were planning on going somewhere that we thought was to be 90 minutes, however it turned into 2.5 hours. &nbsp;Because all of a sudden a wild mountain appeared and we fought it with our mamachari's. &nbsp;"Mamachari's go!" &nbsp;(a bike that's anything but a mountain bike.. 6 gears.. only)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">However, luckily our efforts were satisfied. &nbsp;1. &nbsp;We brought bentos (lunch) because there was no way we could've made it back over that mountain without food. &nbsp;2. We contacted all of the less actives out in that area :D &nbsp;One moved to Kobe and the other had no interest. &nbsp;Yeah!!! And we got to enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen. &nbsp;It was your traditional japanese sunset with the clouds crossing a red sun. &nbsp;Awe inspiring. &nbsp;And then back over the mountain. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">We spent a lot of this week just going streeting, housing, trying to spread the great word. &nbsp;We also had Zone Training this meeting. &nbsp;I really liked how we discussed the blessings of serving a mission and also how to better work with the Branch. &nbsp;Got some good ideas on how to work together or how to be more of a help to the branch instead of just individually working from the branch. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Also a funny note about missionary life: &nbsp;We measure time according to 6 week increments. &nbsp;When you find out random facts like: Christmas is 17 more fridays away you think "wow, that's almost 3 transfers" &nbsp; Or "I only have training left on my mission" &nbsp;O.o Where did the time go? &nbsp;Just going to make the best of my time while I have it. &nbsp;We only have one mission. &nbsp;Unless you are Sister Mary from the MTC who served 6. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">I don't really have a lot to say. &nbsp;A lot of appointments ended up dropping this week. &nbsp;It happens. &nbsp;We actually ended up teaching one of our less active sisters in her genkan. &nbsp;She's listened to totsuzen lessons before but never in her genakan. &nbsp;Hamilton shimai says that's the farthest she's been in her house. Progress? &nbsp;But we ended up talking about her desires. &nbsp;How Heavenly Father desires the same for her (her family's happiness) and that it's only through the gospel of Jesus Christ can we have that lasting happiness. &nbsp;The peace within the storm. &nbsp;Eternal Families where death does not tear us apart but merely separates us for a short period of time. &nbsp;So grateful for that promise that I can be with my family forever. &nbsp;I only want others to have that same joy. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Also I believe that the spiders on Shikoku are just so much genkier than the ones in Shimogamo, because I never saw any spiders as big as these. &nbsp;HUGE! &nbsp;Like fill your hand huge. &nbsp;Granted, they are no bird eating spider, but you certainly take care to make sure that none fall on your face. &nbsp;Just the little things that make your day as you go housing. &nbsp;However, only went housing this week because of time and the lack thereof. &nbsp;So it was more "effective" to go housing. &nbsp; Realized this week that streeting so SO much more fun than housing. &nbsp;I like just being told no rather than having the door be slammed in my face. &nbsp;:)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Well. &nbsp;Hope you have a great week this week. &nbsp;Miss you all. &nbsp;Love you all so much. &nbsp;'Till next time.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Bevan Shimai</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p2Mb_1l8Jk8/VB2u_gz6R_I/AAAAAAAABw8/YNXNrgbIsG0/s1600/IMG_2072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p2Mb_1l8Jk8/VB2u_gz6R_I/AAAAAAAABw8/YNXNrgbIsG0/s1600/IMG_2072.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't let this guy fall on your face!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p31D0DFR_bg/VB2u_0jqO7I/AAAAAAAABxA/zlC4tHHPy_I/s1600/IMG_2073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p31D0DFR_bg/VB2u_0jqO7I/AAAAAAAABxA/zlC4tHHPy_I/s1600/IMG_2073.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPg3NxsoSPw/VB2u_9A-BII/AAAAAAAABxI/O85JKyvQUGw/s1600/IMG_2083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPg3NxsoSPw/VB2u_9A-BII/AAAAAAAABxI/O85JKyvQUGw/s1600/IMG_2083.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KcJswBINs0w/VB2vCKQ-8qI/AAAAAAAABxU/FZxQD2iE_SA/s1600/IMG_2087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KcJswBINs0w/VB2vCKQ-8qI/AAAAAAAABxU/FZxQD2iE_SA/s1600/IMG_2087.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful sunset on Shikoku</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c5xGyuCOq1A/VB2vCz_MNsI/AAAAAAAABxc/fWgw-0jAIEQ/s1600/IMG_2093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c5xGyuCOq1A/VB2vCz_MNsI/AAAAAAAABxc/fWgw-0jAIEQ/s1600/IMG_2093.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-21377172714964436182014-09-04T22:53:00.001-07:002014-09-04T22:54:13.168-07:00We get a lot of watermelon!<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">こんにちは！ みな元気？</span><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week has been great. &nbsp;Recently there have been a lot more Relief Society activities. &nbsp;Not sure if that is because of summer or summer vacation but I approve. &nbsp;The relief society sisters are becoming friends and not just "people we happen to go to church with." &nbsp;So counting that blessing. &nbsp;This past sunday was also really good. The people are waking up. Now it seems to be on a more consistent basis that people are talking to each other. &nbsp;Greeting each other. &nbsp;No hugs yet, but I'm keeping my eyes out. &nbsp;The spirits seem a lot higher. &nbsp;Before it was more like everyone was enduring church. &nbsp;Church is not meant to be endured, my friends. &nbsp;It is a joyous uplifting, enlightening experience. &nbsp;If it is not, repent. It will do you good ;)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week we also went out with the Relief Society to lunch. &nbsp;We went to this Italian restaurant all the way out in Toon city... yes, I laugh everytime I see the signs. The signs are all in kanji (which I can read by the way :DDDDD) and in english. &nbsp;But in Japanese it's pronounced as "toe-n" and city translates to shi. so it's really とうおん or 東温市。 I think I've already explained this but whatever. I don't remember if I have or not. &nbsp;But it means east cool city. Fun facts.. Moving on.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">We also had a wonderful lesson with our 86 year old baptismal candidate for next year. &nbsp;She doesn't remember anything. &nbsp;She is a members mother. &nbsp;The daughter wants an eternal family and is hoping to have her mother be baptized in the next year. &nbsp;However during the lessons, their dog has a tendency to bark.. a lot. &nbsp;And so the mother will get upset and get up to tell the dog ”うらさい！" &nbsp;which means "shut up!" &nbsp;She does it every lesson and in the past the daughter has always tried to help her mom sit back down and focus. &nbsp;But this time she kind of gave up and just said "yes, go tell the dog that he's urasai." &nbsp;So she gets up, goes to the door and tells their dog to shut up and for the first time the dog actually became silent. &nbsp;The daughter and the 3 of us just crack up. &nbsp;And then throughout the lesson our lovely 86 year old asked us 5 times how long we've studied Japanese.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">The other day while we were visiting a less active there were these little kids who were just staring at us from the street. &nbsp;Our less active wasn't home so we just go out to the street and start to talk to these kids. &nbsp;Who were hilarious! &nbsp;And cute. &nbsp;Japanese kids are so adorable! &nbsp;And I can understand them! &nbsp;Fun fact about Japanese: &nbsp;kids only speak the plain form, not the more "advanced" polite form because they're just trying to get a grasp for the language. &nbsp;Usually older kids though will use the polite form of Japanese. &nbsp;Anyway.. So we're talking and joking with these kids. &nbsp;There were two 7-year-old boys, a 5 and a 2 year-old girls. &nbsp;At first they were so surprised that we spoke Japanese. &nbsp;They were all like "WOA! It's not english!" &nbsp;And they kept asking us to speak english. &nbsp;And when we did they were all like "woa! &nbsp;I don't understand at all" Then we would talk and then towards the end when we had to leave for a dinner appointment with the branch president I just said "I speak nothing but Japanese" and the leader of this group just said "You lie! &nbsp;You speak English!" And we said good bye. &nbsp;A good way to end the day.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Every few weeks or so the branch president and his wife hold a family home evening for the branch and they invite the branch members, the missionaries and anyone else who wants to come. &nbsp; Last night Hamilton shimai and I got to decorate the cake for someone's birthday. &nbsp;ええ、さしぶり！Our lovely member friend who's mom we are teaching was there. &nbsp;She baked the cake but says she's never decorated a cake before. &nbsp;So she asked us to do it. &nbsp;It was a peach cake, with peach slices in the middle and on top. &nbsp;However, as I was frosting the cake, I tried some of the cream they whipped up and it was NOT sweet. &nbsp;They hadn't added any sugar and I had already frosted the middle and I was finishing up on top... Oh no. Hamilton shimai and I just asked for the sugar and decided to add sugar to the cream and the sprinkled it on top for a sparkly look.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">I mention this only because the Japanese don't have a sweet tooth. They have anko ice cream for goodness sakes! (sweet beans. &nbsp;Not bad by the way) So it just cracks me up between the differences of American sweet and Japanese sweet. But the cake turned out really good. &nbsp;Mom, you would be proud :)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">On Friday we also had our first district meeting. &nbsp;Fukui choro is our new district leader. He's a half from Utah. &nbsp;Nelson choro is new to the area. &nbsp;I also saw him "born" in shimogamo way back when I was a 2nd transfer. &nbsp;He's now zone leader. Good missionary. &nbsp;Fun to work with again. &nbsp;It's fun to see how we've changed since 2nd and 1st transfer. &nbsp;District meeting was good. &nbsp;Talked about making goals. &nbsp;Among other things. Afterwards went out to eat some delicious indo curry. &nbsp;Because why have Japanese food when you can have delicious cheap indian food with infinite naan bread and laichi?</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">But this week we will be going on a kokkan with the sister training leaders. &nbsp;It's finally our turn. &nbsp;We were last on the list for kokkans mostly because you've got two old farts working together. Woo woo!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Also another fun fact. &nbsp;So because a lot of members have farms in Matsuyama we get a lot of watermelon. &nbsp;We can barely keep up. &nbsp;We are very grateful since watermelon is pretty expensive in Japan (It can get up to $20 for a melon). &nbsp;So what we do is that every weekly planning we just divide the melon into two. &nbsp;I get one half and Hamilton shimai gets the other and we dig in. &nbsp;I like to carve designs into mine. &nbsp;Once we made a bridge of kazadoom from Lord of the Rings 1. &nbsp;And we role played. &nbsp;My red colored pencil was belraug and the blue was gandalf. &nbsp;Yes, we are focused as missionaries. &nbsp;:D &nbsp;And we destroyed that bridge!!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">All in a good weeks work. &nbsp;Until next time</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Bevan Shimai</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;">THE RE-ENACTMENT OF THE BRIDGE OF KHAZAD-DUM as demonstrated by Bevan Shimai</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3iON_y_67wE/VAlJx3Kfx4I/AAAAAAAABvQ/2VWFvlJqgKc/s1600/IMG_1770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3iON_y_67wE/VAlJx3Kfx4I/AAAAAAAABvQ/2VWFvlJqgKc/s1600/IMG_1770.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Instructions for building The Bridge of Khazad-dum<br />Start with one half of a watermelon</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pqRcLY3zRHo/VAlJ0GKJtgI/AAAAAAAABvY/xpWuC06ZweE/s1600/IMG_1772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pqRcLY3zRHo/VAlJ0GKJtgI/AAAAAAAABvY/xpWuC06ZweE/s1600/IMG_1772.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hamilton Shimai is ready to start!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sm44plQqsJo/VAlJ0oZM1II/AAAAAAAABvc/amNDfYGR0js/s1600/IMG_1775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sm44plQqsJo/VAlJ0oZM1II/AAAAAAAABvc/amNDfYGR0js/s1600/IMG_1775.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Eat or scoop away all the watermelon until a bridge is left spanning the width of your watermelon!<br />Now we are ready for the battle between Gandalf and the Balrog of Morgoth</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-voYOYkj7QbA/VAlJ2MB0sZI/AAAAAAAABvo/geE59PjEa9E/s1600/IMG_1776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-voYOYkj7QbA/VAlJ2MB0sZI/AAAAAAAABvo/geE59PjEa9E/s1600/IMG_1776.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Find two objects - one for Gandalf (blue) and one for Balrog (red)<br />find a sword for each player - fingers are ok</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GEeQmnx7eBI/VAlJ5vbmTuI/AAAAAAAABv0/hpiP0scZYsQ/s1600/IMG_1777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GEeQmnx7eBI/VAlJ5vbmTuI/AAAAAAAABv0/hpiP0scZYsQ/s1600/IMG_1777.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Have each player jump &nbsp;up and down on the bridge while stabbing each other with pointed objects until the bridge breaks and both objects are catapulted into the dark abyss of the rind&nbsp;</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E4-1gVCM5UY/VAlJ5fiKePI/AAAAAAAABvw/hL-TGl_d3Xw/s1600/IMG_1778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E4-1gVCM5UY/VAlJ5fiKePI/AAAAAAAABvw/hL-TGl_d3Xw/s1600/IMG_1778.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cry out "Fly you fools" as Gandalf falls into the abyss and the Fellowship escapes out of the mountain - just make sure the red pencil falls first then the blue</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_jf9HZhim7w/VAlJ6iPam1I/AAAAAAAABwA/zbfURjvVm2E/s1600/IMG_1784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_jf9HZhim7w/VAlJ6iPam1I/AAAAAAAABwA/zbfURjvVm2E/s1600/IMG_1784.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Repeat again with the second half and enjoy the fruits of your labor!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-73562603684006986192014-09-03T22:47:00.000-07:002014-09-03T22:53:42.870-07:00"Come, Come Ye Saints"<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week was all sunshine, rainbows, and daisies. &nbsp;End of Story.</span><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">We found 100 new investigators every day. &nbsp;4 families of 25 people. You could say we've got a lot of stuff on our plates. We baptized 400 people last week. &nbsp;4 families of 100. &nbsp;It was incredible. &nbsp;Mind blown. &nbsp;Faith boosted. &nbsp;Everything is just to the tune of "there is sunshine in my soul today"&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">But in reality.... it's more of to the tune of "come, come ye saints" &nbsp;And when it says "And should we die" &nbsp;It's in the hope of the end of the mission. And hope in the resurrection! &nbsp;Ok. &nbsp;Not that bad. &nbsp;But there are those days.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week we went out to wonderful Toon shi to go and visit some less actives. &nbsp;And low and behold we met someone who had interest! &nbsp;Yes, I am totally a faithful and a hopeful missionary. &nbsp;But he was an ojiichan. &nbsp;He was about 70.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Funny thing was that morning, I felt that I needed to translate a certain phrase into Japanese. It was "why do you deny yourself the blessings of the gospel by not coming to church?" &nbsp;A little strong, desho? &nbsp;Kedo, I also felt that I needed to pack my mini book of mormon that I've been studying with. &nbsp;Marking all of the lessons in Preach my Gospel, references to Christ, his words, and such. &nbsp;Really been enjoying the study. &nbsp;So I packed it. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">We visit one of the last less actives of the day. &nbsp;Usually this man isn't home. &nbsp;But we go up and knock. &nbsp;Soon enough we hear someone inside. &nbsp;He first goes to the window to see who it is. He comes to the door.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">So at the door, we're talking to this man, and I just felt that I needed to say that phrase which I had translated earlier. &nbsp;I use it and he says, "wait a minute" and he goes inside and comes back and says, "come in please." &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">We walk in and this house is one that I've never seen before. &nbsp;There are pictures everywhere. &nbsp;They cover the entire wall from the top to the bottom. They cover the ceiling. &nbsp;They cover the coffee table. &nbsp;They are all pictures of places he's been. &nbsp;Like New York, Italy, England, France, and Europe. &nbsp;Very cool. &nbsp;A little off putting but nonetheless fascinating. &nbsp;He also has pictures of this one woman scattered throughout the house. &nbsp;A very beautiful woman. &nbsp;He had one wall dedicated to his wedding, with this beautiful woman. &nbsp;Who was his wife. &nbsp;I believe they divorced a while ago but you can tell that he still loves her. &nbsp;So sweet! &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">But we ended up talking about faith for a little bit. &nbsp;Which is perfect because we actually prepared a lesson on faith with one of our investigators for earlier that day. &nbsp;So we had faith on our minds and ready to discuss it. &nbsp; He told of how he felt that his faith was so weak that he's not sure if he believes anymore. &nbsp;And we end up opening to Alma 32. &nbsp;Reading what faith is and what we can do to strengthen it: experimenting on the word, reading the scriptures, praying, going to church, and such. &nbsp;The spirit was definitely present.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">At the end he told us he wanted to meet again, however because he goes to the hospital so often that he can't make any promises. &nbsp;So we just exchanged numbers. &nbsp;Hopefully we can meet again. &nbsp;Apparently he had a stroke a few years back and he says that he's forgotten the gospel. &nbsp;Which explains all the pictures, so as to not forget. &nbsp;But at the end of the lesson he was like "oh, wow, it's all coming back to me. &nbsp;It feels so good to remember."&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">kokkan was this week as well. &nbsp;I went off takamatsu while Hamilton shimai stayed in Matsuyama. &nbsp;It was good. &nbsp;Ochoa shimai is definitely a sweet, kind spirit. &nbsp;Went streeting and practiced. &nbsp;Went housing, which was a little sashiburi for me. But it was good. &nbsp;Ended up talking to a woman for a good 30 minutes. &nbsp;She was going off about how the young kids are so wild and are not religious and are selfish. &nbsp;So she was impressed that as 21 year olds are going about spreading the gospel. &nbsp;However, she had no interest. &nbsp;Mah, that's ok. &nbsp;Made a good impression.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">I learned a lot more about how to think more selflessly. &nbsp;Ochoa shimai talked about how people love to think of themselves. &nbsp;Such as "What will I wear today?" &nbsp;"How do I look?" "does my breath smell bad?" "Do I stink?" and such. &nbsp;But it made me reflect and decide how I wanted to think. &nbsp;Do I want to think more of others and how they're doing. &nbsp;Or just focus on me and what kind of day I'm having? &nbsp; &nbsp;So good to reflect, change, and becoming a better missionary. &nbsp;Good stuff.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Well, that's all I've got. &nbsp;It's finally september! &nbsp;A year ago I was with Tojo shimai in Shimogamo. &nbsp;Now I'm on the rock of shikoku and living life with Hamilton shimai. &nbsp;Good things. &nbsp;Love you all so much<br /><br /><br />Bevan Shimai</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2qwSuISi5hE/VAf9pIYAm4I/AAAAAAAABvA/cIJ9gMe4esY/s1600/IMG_1966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2qwSuISi5hE/VAf9pIYAm4I/AAAAAAAABvA/cIJ9gMe4esY/s1600/IMG_1966.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.com0Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan33.8391574 132.7655752000000633.4173194 132.12012820000007 34.2609954 133.41102220000005tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-22028318609571402392014-08-23T14:41:00.000-07:002014-08-23T14:41:34.915-07:00You could see Hiroshima from where we were!<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week has been good. &nbsp;Grateful for the little things in life. &nbsp;Trying our best every day. Waking up tired and coming home exhausted. All in the normal days work. &nbsp;</span><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week has been fun. &nbsp;We went up to takamatsu monday evening. &nbsp;Stayed in the takamatsu shimai apartment. &nbsp;enjoyed the lovely song of the trains driving by and the cross bridges ringing. &nbsp;Made our night... &nbsp;But the taikai was good. &nbsp;It's always nice to see the welch's and the AP's. &nbsp;So funny, one of the ap's right now is Stirling choro. &nbsp;He's australian. &nbsp;But I actually worked with him last year in kobe. &nbsp;He was being trained last year the same time I was. &nbsp; He's only a transfer above me. &nbsp;A fantastic missionary though. &nbsp;Really respect him. &nbsp;He was in the same MTC district as Archbold shimai. &nbsp;So I know a lot of stories from their MTC experience.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">But anyway... the taikai. &nbsp;Good meeting. &nbsp;Learned a lot. &nbsp;Felt kind of tired but I really liked his perspective on baptism and Abinidi's experience. &nbsp;We focused our discussion mainly on DC 20:37. &nbsp;The qualifications for baptism. I don't have my notes on me but I just remember really liking the discussion. &nbsp;We talked about how Abinidi was still a successful missionary even though he got burned at the stake. &nbsp;That he was just as successful as Ammon or Alma. &nbsp;In fact, his words stirred Alma to repent and to become a new person and to organize the church. &nbsp;Which greatly helped the church and the nephites. &nbsp;So thank you abinidi. &nbsp;When we talked about baptism, Welch kaicho emphasized the importance of the gift of the Holy Ghost and that it is vital to being baptized. &nbsp;To be baptized by water and "fire". &nbsp;To be cleansed through the power of the Holy Ghost. &nbsp;However, it was kind of difficult to get people to talk. &nbsp;Don't worry, Hamilton shimai contributed just enough. Not like Hermoine level. &nbsp;But aparently Welch Kaicho was not so happy about that. &nbsp;It's something the mission needs help with. &nbsp;Zinke Kaicho kind of struggled with it too.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Then we went streeting for the first time in ever last thursday. &nbsp;We tried our best... which wasn't much but we ganbate imashita. &nbsp;God knows we're trying. &nbsp;For Hamilton shimai it's been 7 transfers since she's tried to go streeting. &nbsp;She was born in the boonies of Japan (hashimoto) and then went to Osaka, Ibaraki which is the opposite - a very suburban area. &nbsp;She tried to go streeting with another inaka born missionary however, they just stuck to housing. &nbsp;Then she went to uwajima and they started the less active project at that time. &nbsp;So she's been doing less active work for 9 months. &nbsp;So you could say we were both a little rusty at streeting. &nbsp;But it's a learning process. &nbsp;The chorotachi are going to help out this week. &nbsp;Yeah! &nbsp;We'll see how it goes. &nbsp;Last week was a tad difficult lesson wise just because of the huge holiday so everyone is getting together with their family. &nbsp;Which is completely understandable. &nbsp;I just can't wait to see everyone again this week. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week we also went and visited less actives with our lovely shibu kaicho - branch president/bishop and his wife on saturday . &nbsp;It was a fantastic day. &nbsp;I was very grateful for the blessings we received that day. &nbsp;The first person we try to contact ends up being "lost" because they moved out of the apartment. &nbsp;The second woman we visited was at first a little closed off with Hamilton shimai. But I just cut in and asked "have you met Shibu shimai?" and they went into a conversation and such and she reacted much better than to the missionaries... I think I like dendo'ing with members. &nbsp;Makes life a lot easier. &nbsp;The third person we tried to contact was busy doing a bhuddist ceremony to honor their ancestors... thank you obon. &nbsp;Then the next contact was actually a really good friend of the S kaicho and his wife. &nbsp;And so they ended up talking for a while about how life was going and seeing how everyone was. &nbsp;The contact's son is also a member but wasn't home. &nbsp;The man's backyard actually ran into the beach walk. So we walked back and looked at the view. &nbsp;You could see Hiroshima from where we were. &nbsp;Apparently Matsuyama was also affected by the bomb way back when. &nbsp;That was a big bomb... But it was a beautiful view. &nbsp;Last of all we visited someone who ended up not being home but we talked to their daughter. &nbsp;She didn't know her father was a member. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Then a family who previously investigated and were good friends of the branch president and wife was right around the corner of this oyasumi kaiin (less active). &nbsp;So we stopped by, said hello. Talked for a little bit and then went home. &nbsp;Enjoyed some Coco tsuyama curry. &nbsp;I don't think I've said how big curry is in Japan. &nbsp;It's delicious. &nbsp;And then went home. &nbsp;The couple said to us "wow, dendo is so much fun"... We replied "Yes, it's fun when you have a member and a car" &nbsp;:)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Today, we tried to go to the Matsuyama zoo. &nbsp;Biked a mountain to get there. &nbsp;However, we get there and we find out it's closed every monday. Just our luck. &nbsp;So instead, we go with a member to the beach... all the way in Iyoshi. &nbsp;Which was about an hour bike ride. &nbsp;So right now Hamilton shimai and I are a little exhausted... to say the least. &nbsp;But we got to stick our feet into the water, skip rocks, enjoy the breeze. &nbsp;I was surprised to find that the water was perfectly clear. &nbsp;You could see the ocean floor very easily. &nbsp;I think it was because of the rocks. &nbsp;Not a sandy beach. But a beach nonetheless. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Interesting conversation of the week with Hamilton shimai. &nbsp;We talked about comfort zones this week. &nbsp;And how they are constantly shrinking and growing. &nbsp;That as we go through new experiences, at first our comfort zone will be really small but then will grow with experience and time. &nbsp;How when we're in kindergarten we're the small kids on the block but then we're in 5th grade and we're "grown up"... then middle school, your comfort zone shrinks. &nbsp;You're a senior in high school and you think you know everything.. Then college. The cycle repeats. &nbsp;Then a mission. &nbsp;Your comfort zone starts out very small. &nbsp;But I feel that it has definitley gotten bigger with time. &nbsp;I think that if our comfort zone isn't growing, maybe we can stretch it a little further by doing something new. &nbsp;Trying different things. &nbsp;Stretching ourselves. &nbsp;And hey, maybe we'll learn something.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Hope you're all doing well. &nbsp;Love you all. Love this gospel. &nbsp;Learning something new everyday. &nbsp;Repenting every day. &nbsp;Life is good. Keep going. Keep smiling. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Bevan Shimai</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HMKOZzabBTI/U_kJkaJerNI/AAAAAAAABuM/EBf4p4agXxk/s1600/IMG_1965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HMKOZzabBTI/U_kJkaJerNI/AAAAAAAABuM/EBf4p4agXxk/s1600/IMG_1965.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iyoshi beach with my companion</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iC0UTXL-oFo/U_kJkciOSdI/AAAAAAAABuQ/KWWKV6q7pTw/s1600/IMG_1967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iC0UTXL-oFo/U_kJkciOSdI/AAAAAAAABuQ/KWWKV6q7pTw/s1600/IMG_1967.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>The Chorrotaichi on the beach - note the large cement "jacks" next to the stairs - these are common on Japanese beaches to prevent erosion</h3></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Goeb1S59do/U_kJkGWn7zI/AAAAAAAABuU/2q-4fQlzKWY/s1600/IMG_1974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Goeb1S59do/U_kJkGWn7zI/AAAAAAAABuU/2q-4fQlzKWY/s1600/IMG_1974.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look - I can almost touch the clouds!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qCKOF5G_1b0/U_kJm8sZXRI/AAAAAAAABuk/gqcBZybkAp4/s1600/IMG_1978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qCKOF5G_1b0/U_kJm8sZXRI/AAAAAAAABuk/gqcBZybkAp4/s1600/IMG_1978.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful clear water - Iyoshi beach</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-49525735071965898712014-08-23T14:24:00.003-07:002014-08-23T14:27:35.236-07:00Newly installed tatami - smells like alfalfa!<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week has been fun. &nbsp;We've had a typhoon come in and apparently the entire mission was in the red danger zone. &nbsp;We still went out and dendo'ed. &nbsp;Because that's how we do it in the Japan Kobe mission. And the Japanese are wimps when it comes to weather. &nbsp;It's always too hot or too cold ;)<br /><div><br /></div><div>Nothing unusual happened... We just got a little bit wet. &nbsp;We enjoyed the cool weather and the nice strong wind, kept us cool. &nbsp;What was really nice though was that the typhoon woke us up on Saturday night because the wind and the rain were so strong. &nbsp;Yeah! &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>On saturday we actually got to do service!!! In Japan they hate it when you serve them, I've tried forcing service.. it doesn't work. But we got to help a member move back into her remodeled home. She's kind of nursing her parents right now. &nbsp;Her mom is really sick and unable to come to church. &nbsp;Her father had a stroke and so is the most genki old man in all of Japan. He doesn't remember or understand a thing but super nice! &nbsp;Every sunday he greets the missionaries with a high five. &nbsp;He has the best chuckle too. &nbsp;I like to pat his hair because it's really soft.. (that's not creepy at all ;) ) &nbsp;So we helped her move in. &nbsp;The chorotachi helped too. &nbsp;I got to see newly installed tatami. &nbsp;Smelled like alfalfa. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Then Sunday was awesome! &nbsp;Despite the threats of the typhoon, it blew through the entire night (Saturday night) but not Sunday morning. &nbsp;The members told of how they prayed they would be able to go to church that morning. &nbsp;We even had 4 people come to church that day. &nbsp;It was amazing. &nbsp;They were all less actives. &nbsp;One of them was a sister whom we've been texting a daily scripture to help her read the scriptures. &nbsp;She came without telling us. &nbsp;We were so happy to see her! &nbsp;We didn't get a chance to ask how it went. &nbsp;But she seemed happy.</div><div><br /></div><div>For weeks we have been trying to improve the fuinki of the branch. People would usually come to church, however they wouldn't be very happy. Everyone was grim, or I'm guessing tired. &nbsp;So Hamilton shimai and I have tried to personally greet everyone with a smile and to have meaningful conversations with the members. &nbsp;I don't know if that made any difference about yesterday. &nbsp;But members started to greet members. &nbsp;There were some members visiting family in Matsuyama and so came to church and were warmly greeted by the branch. &nbsp;I was so proud. Everyone seemed happy. &nbsp;Good day, good day.</div><div><br /></div><div>So more follow up about our wonderful conselor friend who referred his wife. &nbsp;We tried to visit her again but she wasn't home. &nbsp;So we left a little gift and note saying that we were thinking about her and hoped she was well. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Tonight we'll be taking a bus to Takamatsu for zone taikai. I'm thinking that we'll get to hear about Welch Kaicho's vision for the mission. But we'll see. &nbsp;We've already gotten homework about Baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. &nbsp;I'm interested to see what his interpretation is.</div><div><br /></div><div>love always,&nbsp;</div><div>Bevan 姉妹</div><div><br /></div><div>P.S for our preperation fun thing we went on a hike to the Matsuyama jo. &nbsp;enjoyed some ice cream (I had marmalade with mine. &nbsp;Really good). Then we came back down and emailed. &nbsp;Good stuff. (ignore the bags under our eyes)</div><div><br /></div><div>Also this past sunday we helped to make a diaper cake for a sister in the branch who's expecting. &nbsp;This is a really good reflection on Japanese taste and style. &nbsp;Just saying. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>And this week I had my first cup of "coffee." &nbsp;Mugi coffee that is. &nbsp;Completely barley based. &nbsp;Pretty good after our lovely member friend added milk to it. Fun experience of the week ;)</div><div><br /></div><div>And... It's hot :P</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PB6ua_EXqTc/U_kFySxkfjI/AAAAAAAABto/-Gv3yCXIV80/s1600/IMG_1889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PB6ua_EXqTc/U_kFySxkfjI/AAAAAAAABto/-Gv3yCXIV80/s1600/IMG_1889.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japanese Mugi "coffee"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4eUMo6iEJ1Q/U_kFzmyFAYI/AAAAAAAABtw/21DIlQkoHZ0/s1600/IMG_1901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4eUMo6iEJ1Q/U_kFzmyFAYI/AAAAAAAABtw/21DIlQkoHZ0/s1600/IMG_1901.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super cute diaper cake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T4kMgV_vF1c/U_kF0qS6NoI/AAAAAAAABt4/tfkZR7TMaPc/s1600/IMG_1914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T4kMgV_vF1c/U_kF0qS6NoI/AAAAAAAABt4/tfkZR7TMaPc/s1600/IMG_1914.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's SO HOTTTTTT!!!!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s85QX8mOKUQ/U_kF1jzdbFI/AAAAAAAABuA/GW7fHSstfAQ/s1600/IMG_1933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s85QX8mOKUQ/U_kF1jzdbFI/AAAAAAAABuA/GW7fHSstfAQ/s1600/IMG_1933.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The awesome shimai duo on their way to the Matsuyama jo or castle!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-39998107987062198042014-08-08T01:53:00.004-07:002014-08-08T01:54:18.622-07:00Matsuyama shimai . . . ready to take over the world! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wpBtGnZSKNQ/U-SN3C7Bk4I/AAAAAAAABs8/pqUEeUmOjKo/s1600/IMG_1881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wpBtGnZSKNQ/U-SN3C7Bk4I/AAAAAAAABs8/pqUEeUmOjKo/s1600/IMG_1881.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Ok, so maybe we're still a work in process ;)</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">This week we did a lot of dendo with our part member families in the Branch. I have been humbled in getting to know many of the personal struggles that members and their spouses must deal with. &nbsp;These relationships can be very complicated and sometimes a little puzzling to a 21 year old without any marriage experience! Then on top of that add a good measure of Japanese culture, and relationships can become downright messy. Suffice it to say that this aspect of missionary work has reinforced my desire to find a really nice guy to marry someday - someone who will love me and find me beautiful no matter what!&nbsp;</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">As a fun note this week, Hamilton shimai and I celebrated the new transfer with udon and Baskin Robbins ice cream. &nbsp;Udon was amazing! &nbsp;Ice cream was amazing! &nbsp;I have found the best food in Japan is found in the mom and pop shops. You don't get better than that. &nbsp;However that day it began to pour and continued to rain sheets and buckets and cats and dogs until late in the evening. &nbsp;Our rain suits almost had no purpose. &nbsp;After 7 hours of constant rain- no rain gear will protect you. &nbsp;But I was still relatively dry... my back was anyway. &nbsp;It rained for 2 days and then this week we're expecting a typhoon (Halong -see photos below)! &nbsp;Yeah Japan! &nbsp;It makes you sweat buckets in the summer. &nbsp;You enjoy a day of cool air, then you drown in torrential rain, and then you suffocate with the humidity as the water evaporates and gets ready to rain again! &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">This week I am traveling to Takamatsu (north side of Shikoku, across the sea from Akou). &nbsp;It is going to be Zone training meeting. &nbsp;I am looking forward to being spiritually uplifted and to change my dendo in order to help my brothers and sisters come unto Christ.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">Love you all. &nbsp;Thank you for all that you do. Pray that the worst of the typhoon will pass around us!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">Love always,&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;">Bevan Shimai</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tKKYOTD8JMg/U-SN3CCYHSI/AAAAAAAABtA/6CG6WArO0l8/s1600/IMG_1885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tKKYOTD8JMg/U-SN3CCYHSI/AAAAAAAABtA/6CG6WArO0l8/s1600/IMG_1885.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I LOVE sharing the GOSPEL!<br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tgYQ_ZasXY8/U-SN1sd29bI/AAAAAAAABs0/X3VYDV7T_lg/s1600/IMG_1794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tgYQ_ZasXY8/U-SN1sd29bI/AAAAAAAABs0/X3VYDV7T_lg/s1600/IMG_1794.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uwajima District</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TE4cPglLByY/U-SNx799AmI/AAAAAAAABsg/gUF-T1kKhIQ/s1600/800px-Halong_Aug_07_2014_0205Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TE4cPglLByY/U-SNx799AmI/AAAAAAAABsg/gUF-T1kKhIQ/s1600/800px-Halong_Aug_07_2014_0205Z.jpg" height="640" width="490" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Typhoon Halong heading to Japan - supposed to slam into Shikoku Saturday <br />with 80-100 mph winds with a possibility of 6-10 inches of rain!!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WFw8a76Xx6I/U-SNxXDiv1I/AAAAAAAABsk/A4DdUc9gj3k/s1600/650x366_08071211_rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WFw8a76Xx6I/U-SNxXDiv1I/AAAAAAAABsk/A4DdUc9gj3k/s1600/650x366_08071211_rain.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matsuyama is just below Hiroshima on this map and the one below!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RUkzGara4FU/U-SNxRalyKI/AAAAAAAABsc/0vFNlUVHbDY/s1600/650x366_08071853_hd20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RUkzGara4FU/U-SNxRalyKI/AAAAAAAABsc/0vFNlUVHbDY/s1600/650x366_08071853_hd20.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-68086417666327768992014-07-31T08:53:00.000-07:002014-07-31T09:06:20.259-07:00I don't want to ever leave! I LOVE Japan!! <div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last full week in July. &nbsp;Goodness where is the time going? &nbsp;</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week was good.. hot... and the sweat has made a comeback. &nbsp;Granted, I've heard from other people that it's not going to be as hot as last year (thank goodness!). &nbsp;Not going to get above 40degrees celsius. &nbsp;Yoshi! &nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also this morning, Hamilton shimai was totally panicking about transfer email. &nbsp;Mostly because she didn't want to leave Matsuyama and wanted to be my companion this transfer... well.. That's exactly what's happening. &nbsp;Hamilton shimai and I are staying another transfer in Matsuyama! &nbsp;3 transfers together. &nbsp;Hajimete. &nbsp;I'm not sure what to do with myself or what we'll talk about. &nbsp;Maybe we'll discuss the body temperature of resurrected beings. &nbsp;かも. &nbsp;However, one thing that I am super excited about is that Tojo shima (Sarah's Japanese companion last fall in Kyoto) is going back to Shimogamo (Kyoto) to spend her last two transfers there. &nbsp;She's going to be training a brand new missionary. &nbsp;I don't know if the trainee will be nihonjin or not. &nbsp;But it has brought such peace of mind to me because I KNOW that she will take care of everything. &nbsp;I'm so grateful for that she'll will be taking care of Bogi and Nishi shimai. &nbsp;No one will be lost through the cracks.I also heard that some of the investigators that we were working with last fall are now getting baptized so I am so excited that Tojo shimai will be there for their baptism :)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week we had a really good lesson with our lovely 80 year old investigator who's been&nbsp;<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;">investigating for the past 9 years.&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">&nbsp;It's been on and off. However we end up just talking with her, finding out why she's met with the missionaries. If she wants to know if the church is true or not and so on. We had a great conversation. She does have interest. She realized she hasn't been doing the work to receive an answer. She also said that she's felt as if she's never received an answer from God. So maybe we'll talk about receiving answers this week... かな But good lesson. Discussed the importance of the Book of Mormon. She realized that she hasn't been as intent as she needs to be. We'll see what happens this week. I remember feeling the spirit very strongly in that lesson. &nbsp;</span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">Then this week we've spent a lot of it just trying to find less actives. &nbsp;But we had a good amount of lessons that kept us busy. &nbsp;Nothing too new or exciting. &nbsp;But yesterday we had a totsuzen lesson with a less active. &nbsp;He knows a lot about the church. &nbsp;In fact we ended up talking about the different quorums of seventy and who overseas the area of asia (it's the 8th quorum of seventy by the way). &nbsp;Grateful that my Japanese was good enough for that conversation. &nbsp;And that each quorum is not completely filled with 70 people. &nbsp;However we talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ. &nbsp;Just a quick summary lesson. &nbsp;We discussed our&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">Goal: Live with our Heavenly Father again</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">Obstacles: Sin and death (you cannot overcome them on your own)</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">The solution: Jesus Christ and His Atonement</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">The method:</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">1. Faith in Jesus Christ</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">2.&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">Repentance</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">3. Baptism</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">4. Gift of the Holy Ghost</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">5. Enduring to the End</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">When we got to enduring to the end he asked us this question: &nbsp;Now, you're only 21 but would you consider this lifetime to be long or short?</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">I answered, "well, in the scheme of eternity, it's very short" And he kind of skuffs it off saying "well of course in eternity this lifetime is short (kind of hinting that he thinks this lifetime is long)"</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">And he tells us of how long this lifetime is and how difficult of a thing God asks us to endure to the end. And I just say, "well my grandmother converted at age 20 and she's still going strong" (thank you grammy) and we get into this discussion of enduring and enduring with hope and that Heavenly Father always provides a way. &nbsp;But then he says that "well, you only visited me because your mission president told you to." &nbsp;And I'm just&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16px;">thinking to</span><span style="line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">&nbsp;myself . . &nbsp;"you live an hour away by bike. &nbsp;We rode in the heat to come see you. &nbsp;No one MADE us do anything. &nbsp;The only reason we don't look sweaty is because we just wiped ourselves down with our sweat rags" . . . Ugh . . . &nbsp;So we talk about how we didn't come because we were told to, but because we sincerely desired for him to receive the blessings Heavenly Father is patiently waiting to give him.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">Strange thing was that after this lesson, he asks us if we'd like to have these kimono coat things. &nbsp;I don't know or I forgot what they're called in japanese (I'm sending them home in a package). &nbsp;But he let us take three, or insisted upon it... Woa.. .I guess I've never written about how gift giving is the love language of the Japanese. &nbsp;So I have felt very loved by these people. &nbsp;We were so surprised that after politely disagreeing with him he gives us gifts. &nbsp;We were a little confused but that didn't stop us! &nbsp; He also has a french bulldog that sounds like a pig. &nbsp;a little bit hilarious. We have this bulldog crowding our feet while we're looking through this bin of kimono coats and snorting and sniffing around. &nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">This week we tried to street for the first time in forever. &nbsp;I ended up having a really good conversation with one woman. &nbsp;However, I ended up kind of butchering the contact. &nbsp;oh well. &nbsp;Cause I was walking and talking with her until we arrived at her work building and then I realized that I had to quickly wrap things up. &nbsp;So i just left with saying, "well... we teach a free english class. &nbsp;I'd like to see you again and chat another time." And then I left... I definitely have room to grow. &nbsp;But I haven't streeted since Shimogamo because Akou is zutto inaka. (all country). And I'm a tad rusty... :\ &nbsp;Oh well. There's always next week.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">Then on saturday we went with the branch up into the mountains. &nbsp;There was this&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 16px;">women</span><span style="line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">&nbsp;noodle place that uses the fresh mountain water to cook the somen and then they toss somen down a pipe that opens up to all the customers below. &nbsp;Everyone has to catch the somen with their chopsticks. &nbsp;If you can't use chopsticks you're out of luck. &nbsp;Because the somen will pass you by. &nbsp;Delicious by the way. &nbsp;Then we drove up to this really interesting place. &nbsp;It was all green, reminded me of Oregon. &nbsp;We park the cars and walk up to this place that has this huge square ditch that's been dug out. &nbsp;Except there was cool air&nbsp;emanating&nbsp;from the rocks. &nbsp;Apparently&nbsp;this ditch used to function as&nbsp;a&nbsp;refrigerator&nbsp;(probably for the monks - They are always hanging out in mountains!) &nbsp;Up the hill a little higher there was this mist or fog emanating from the rocks because the air was so cold! &nbsp;It was the coolest thing ever! &nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">Now I understand caves and why they are cold. But this was something I've never seen before. &nbsp;So cool. &nbsp;Fushigi.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">Then we walked with the members down a pathway that had HUGE hydrageneas. &nbsp;They were like 8-10 feet tall along the road. &nbsp;Gorgeous. A good way to end the outing and a wonderful day.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">All around it has been a good week. &nbsp;We're exhausted. &nbsp;We're going to sleep this afternoon. &nbsp;I'm currently sitting at a cafe and enjoying some pizza and jazz - I haven't had pizza for a year! I'm a little bit excited too knowing that I am staying here another 6 weeks with the best companion ever. &nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="line-height: 16.899999618530273px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">Hope you're all doing well and genki. &nbsp;I cannot believe I'm going to be 10th transfer this week-only 18 more weeks or 3 more transfers until I finish my mission. &nbsp;CRAZY. &nbsp;I really don't want to ever leave. &nbsp;I love Japan. &nbsp;I love the people. &nbsp;Love the work! &nbsp;I Love being a missionary!!&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">Signing out,&nbsp;</span></span></div><div><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">Bevan Shimai</span></span></div><div><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">P.S the sister on the rock is a sister who is one of the young couples in the ward. &nbsp;She's so CUTE! And tiny and nihonjin</span></span></div><div><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.899999618530273px;">P.P.S We decorated eggs today. &nbsp;Hamilton shimai had an egg decorating set that she hadn't used from her easter package!</span></span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.899999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nx7dGUVHzFk/U9pkomNF3yI/AAAAAAAABrU/H_1XGbjLBUE/s1600/IMG_1788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nx7dGUVHzFk/U9pkomNF3yI/AAAAAAAABrU/H_1XGbjLBUE/s1600/IMG_1788.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New fashion wear for shimai - melon rinds!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mLGkJ_F10sc/U9pkp0lmknI/AAAAAAAABrc/WeqYeYNqCww/s1600/IMG_1815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mLGkJ_F10sc/U9pkp0lmknI/AAAAAAAABrc/WeqYeYNqCww/s1600/IMG_1815.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natural refrigeration emanating from underground</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nNH3ErIC8Zc/U9pkqetxalI/AAAAAAAABrg/gj7GYX6YPR4/s1600/IMG_1829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nNH3ErIC8Zc/U9pkqetxalI/AAAAAAAABrg/gj7GYX6YPR4/s1600/IMG_1829.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church member from Matsuyama branch</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N2mV_QLcvaM/U9pkwF9hAhI/AAAAAAAABrs/LTF_ImakMUI/s1600/IMG_1831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N2mV_QLcvaM/U9pkwF9hAhI/AAAAAAAABrs/LTF_ImakMUI/s1600/IMG_1831.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the ditch from the other side</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2HaCLPze5A8/U9pk1j-H15I/AAAAAAAABsA/HlQ5rUlZLgk/s1600/IMG_1841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2HaCLPze5A8/U9pk1j-H15I/AAAAAAAABsA/HlQ5rUlZLgk/s1600/IMG_1841.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super huge hydrangeas - they are Gorgeous!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-iw3SeKdiU/U9pkwCx6dCI/AAAAAAAABrw/t0g6xNHcng8/s1600/IMG_1845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-iw3SeKdiU/U9pkwCx6dCI/AAAAAAAABrw/t0g6xNHcng8/s1600/IMG_1845.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bevan and Hamilton shimai -they are gorgeous too!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-81Md3dXscPE/U9pk1jXCSLI/AAAAAAAABsE/zEf3tj-UBaw/s1600/IMG_1848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-81Md3dXscPE/U9pk1jXCSLI/AAAAAAAABsE/zEf3tj-UBaw/s1600/IMG_1848.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I LOVE JAPAN!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DMPKY4UKYqE/U9pk0mtGm2I/AAAAAAAABr8/jxJ7LdpqpE8/s1600/IMG_1862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DMPKY4UKYqE/U9pk0mtGm2I/AAAAAAAABr8/jxJ7LdpqpE8/s1600/IMG_1862.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our beautiful glitter eggs! &nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.899999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-75269725208144773112014-07-23T07:44:00.001-07:002014-07-23T07:44:22.657-07:00It's important to have balance<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week was good. &nbsp;Sometimes I feel as a missionary that life is very repititious. &nbsp;You wake up, exercise, eat, get ready, study, eat, dendo, eat, sleep, repeat. &nbsp;There have been times where weeks would blur together. &nbsp;Days are no longer individual. &nbsp;I remember just continuing to wake up and go and do. &nbsp;I have to keep reminding myself to act with faith and not just go through the motions. It can be a little bit difficult.<div><br /></div><div>But interviews were awesome. &nbsp;I love Welch Kaicho. &nbsp;Definitely what the mission needs right now. &nbsp;He is going to be a powerful tool in the hands of the Lord. &nbsp;If not already now. I definitely respect him. &nbsp; His style is different from zinke kaichos. &nbsp;For example:</div><div><br /></div><div>Hamilton shimai and i get to the building around 9:15 am, interviews start at 10. &nbsp;Before the zinke's would always come around 10. &nbsp;However I saw welch shimai sitting at the front. &nbsp;I was surprised! &nbsp;The welch's already came and joined us in spiritual preparation.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Then to start, he just walks around (the tables are set up in a u) and just looks at everyone and starts to talk with us. &nbsp;He asked good questions. &nbsp;He got a conversation started. &nbsp;He had everyone read some homework before interviews so that everyone would be prepared to come and share. And they were. &nbsp;So inspiring. &nbsp;We talked about setting the foundations of the church in Japan. &nbsp;We're not here to create an american ward. &nbsp;We're here to set up a Japanese ward. &nbsp;So respect the leaders and the culture. So, how do we create a foundation? &nbsp;We have to help the current members and create strong members. By strengthening their testimonies by being examples. &nbsp;To teach by example. &nbsp;To include the members in the work.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>But more importantly to have a balance in the work of find, teach, baptize, retain, reactivate. &nbsp;If we only focus one part of the work, then it's not going to hold up. &nbsp;It will fall a part. &nbsp;For example if we only find, teach, baptize then we are not going to retain and only give the branch/ward more less actives to work with. &nbsp;Not good. Balance is definitely important.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Then today we were invited by an investigator to go up to the mountains to this brand new shop that she's been wanting to go to and invited us to go together. &nbsp;Then she stopped by a ceramics place and painted some ceramics (you know the kind where you can paint a cup and glaze it.. yea, that kind of place) then had some sandwhiches at a cafe. &nbsp;All in all not leaving a lot of preperation day. &nbsp;It was fun to be with her and talk and form a better friendship. &nbsp;She is a less active an has a goal to be active by october. &nbsp;She also desires to receive her patriarchal blessing. &nbsp;However she was discouraged a little while a go. &nbsp;But things are looking better. &nbsp;She says that her faith in Christ and God has exponentially grown. &nbsp;And that she has more hope in her life. &nbsp;So glad that she sees the blessings of the gospel. &nbsp;She came to church last sunday. So very happy!</div><div><br /></div><div>Fun fact, this past sunday we ended up having four people at church. &nbsp;Our less active friend came, then a member brought a friend to church, then our other less active friend ended up coming with her daughter. It's amazing! &nbsp;So glad she came. &nbsp;Funny thing is, was that this past sunday there was a branch tai kai in Nihama, so a lot of members who have stake callings had to attend that meeting (1 1/2 hour drive). &nbsp;Meaning, not a lot of people came to church. &nbsp;It looked like Akou it was so small.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>That afternoon we were fortunate to go out and dendo with the branch president and relief society president. &nbsp;We went and visited some less actives that were a bit far by bike (about 40 min by car). &nbsp;And then brought the sacrament to a member living in a group home. &nbsp;Then back to the branch president's home for family home evening. &nbsp;Every so often the branch president has a family home evening at his home and he invites various members and those without family to come and join us. &nbsp;He also invites the missionaries and asks them to bring investigators if possible. &nbsp;We asked everyone but no one replied. Such is the life of a missionary.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>But all in all a good week. &nbsp;As always, thanks for your love and support. &nbsp;Until we meet again.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Bevan Shimai</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0Eh92Xn1zU/U8_JypIL2lI/AAAAAAAABrA/jwnPeRVpQVE/s1600/IMG_1714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0Eh92Xn1zU/U8_JypIL2lI/AAAAAAAABrA/jwnPeRVpQVE/s1600/IMG_1714.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah with Welch Kaicho and Welch Shimai</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PBD3V7YBQ30/U8_JylLps1I/AAAAAAAABq8/-LdPIpX3f8k/s1600/IMG_1738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PBD3V7YBQ30/U8_JylLps1I/AAAAAAAABq8/-LdPIpX3f8k/s1600/IMG_1738.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful mountain views&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-13840323834480745232014-07-17T23:53:00.003-07:002014-07-18T00:01:33.249-07:00Note to self: You don't come to church to sleep!<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">hope you're all well and genki.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week was good. &nbsp;Nothing too interesting. &nbsp;No earthquakes here in Shikoku. &nbsp;Everyone was panicking about the typhoon in Okinawa thinking it was to come to Shikoku. Ward members were telling us to stay inside. &nbsp;We even got a message from the honbu to be careful. &nbsp;Be safe. &nbsp;The day of the typhoon "came" and we just did weekly planning and no storm. &nbsp;So we went out and dendo'ed. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week I also gave my talk in church. &nbsp;Lots of people seemed to like it. &nbsp;They all complimented me afterwards. At least, those who were awake. &nbsp;Note to self: &nbsp;You didn't come to church to sleep. &nbsp;You came to be edified. &nbsp;Also, pay attention when the members are speaking. &nbsp;It definitely looks better than "sleeping" or doing something else. &nbsp; I spoke about vision. &nbsp;About getting one and dreaming big! &nbsp;Matsuyama can be so much bigger and better than a branch. &nbsp;Not only can it become a ward but a stake. Then a temple in Shikoku. &nbsp;Most likely in Matsuyama because it's the biggest city in Shikoku. :D &nbsp;That in order to progess we need a vision for the future. &nbsp;Of what we want to become. &nbsp;Otherwise, we just go in circles. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Then that afternoon, we went out contacting less actives and we ping ponged this one woman's home. &nbsp;At first she wasn't very friendly over the intercom and just seemed impatient. &nbsp;However, I said that we had heard some good things about you from the branch and we wanted to meet said person. &nbsp;She says to wait a minute. &nbsp;She comes down and we start talking and she asks from whom did we hear about her. &nbsp;I had no idea. &nbsp;I just say the "good things" line to prevent people from slamming the door in my face or hanging up on me. :]</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">So I mention one of the oldest members in the ward (as in membership not age) and she is just so happy to hear that people are still thinking of her. &nbsp;That she's not completely forgotten. &nbsp;(just emphasizes how IMPORTANT home and visiting teaching is) However because she wasn't that friendly to the missionaries but still has interest in the church, we're just going to ask that the branch takes care of her. &nbsp;We just feel that if they visited her. Invited her to activities, that she would become active again. &nbsp;She just needs friends. &nbsp;How important it is to befriend others. &nbsp;Even those who are not as well dressed or wearing jeans to church. &nbsp;They are children of God. &nbsp;No one should go less active due to a lack of friends. &nbsp;Just life lessons that I'm learning .</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week, I got a hold of a cheap, paperback copy of an english book of mormon. &nbsp;I decided to read the book of mormon with the suggestions in the Book of Mormon section of Preach my Gospel. &nbsp;It's under suggestions for mission president. &nbsp;It just suggest to read it and highlight any of the lessons but also all mentions of Christ, his name, and his attributes. &nbsp;Holy Cow, &nbsp;Christ's name is on each page like 5 times. &nbsp;Never realized it until now. &nbsp;And I'm also noticing the Christ like attributes of Nephi and his family. &nbsp;Or how incredibly annoying he was to Laman and Lemuel. &nbsp;Not excusing what they did, but I don't think Nephi helped out by saying how he was chosen to rule over them by God. &nbsp;Not the best tact Nephi. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week I'll get to sit down and chat it up with Welch Kaicho at interviews. &nbsp;Should be fun. &nbsp;I look forward to it. &nbsp;I wonder if he'll do it differently than Zinke Kaicho. &nbsp;Probably. &nbsp;They're completely different people. &nbsp;I'll let you all know how it goes next week. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">A quote about Japan that really motivates me:</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><div>“Now I want to tell you people here tonight something that I have not said before. Some of&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>you who are listening to me tonight will live to see the day when there will be a Japanese&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>man in the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church. ...Then you will realize that God&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>loves the Japanese people. ... I feel it in my heart tonight and I dare to make this prediction&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>in the name of the Lord. ... And some of you people may be called to go to Russia on&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>missions.” ~Hue B. Brown 1967</div></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Today, we are going to go off to Dogo spa. &nbsp;Take some photos, tour the city, have fun. &nbsp;Enjoy life and dendo.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">love always, bevan shimai</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ry6Qw1d7TTs/U8jGDECaCfI/AAAAAAAABqs/VB4QminBjRU/s1600/typhoon_neoguri.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ry6Qw1d7TTs/U8jGDECaCfI/AAAAAAAABqs/VB4QminBjRU/s1600/typhoon_neoguri.jpeg" height="400" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typhoon Neoguri heading across Japan</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MZp89iGfupc/U8jD2hg8mrI/AAAAAAAABqg/tKD2l0ULjLU/s1600/IMG_1674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MZp89iGfupc/U8jD2hg8mrI/AAAAAAAABqg/tKD2l0ULjLU/s1600/IMG_1674.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferris wheel on top of the Takashimaya department store in Matsuyama</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nfDHV2N6x_g/U8jD1Xgo9-I/AAAAAAAABqY/R_3UxGxDqyg/s1600/IMG_1675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nfDHV2N6x_g/U8jD1Xgo9-I/AAAAAAAABqY/R_3UxGxDqyg/s1600/IMG_1675.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fiery summer sunset!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-18657648359975130642014-07-17T23:43:00.004-07:002014-07-17T23:44:05.373-07:00Meet the kaicho conference!<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Another week has flown by. This one more than usual. &nbsp;Hamilton shimai and I taught nine lessons. &nbsp;Which is awesome! &nbsp;So grateful to my heavenly father for the opportunity to do so. &nbsp;To act as His representatives and hopefully bring others closer to Christ.&nbsp;<div><br /></div><div>This week we went to Okayama to go and meet the Welch's. They are just what the mission needs right now. &nbsp;Completely different people, but in a good way. President Welch supports Zinke Kaicho and what he did. &nbsp;Now he's just going to be taking the mission in a different direction. &nbsp;Which is perfectly fine and I look forward to it. &nbsp;Sister Welch gave a little bit of an introduction to their family and the story of how they received their call. What's interesting was that when they first came to Japan, President welch got a call from his new job and told him "I've fired the old president. &nbsp;You're now president. &nbsp; See you on monday." &nbsp;I think I would've peed my pants. &nbsp;Not only have you just moved to Japan and are still refreshing your Japanese from mission days but also you have to give meetings in business japanese, which is definitely not normal japanese. &nbsp;I'm not sure if I could handle that. &nbsp;Then two weeks later called to be bishop. &nbsp;Not sure how I'd feel about that.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>So welch kaicho is well aware of the burdens that are on the backs of every bishop. &nbsp;And something that is really interesting that he said was that we're not here to change the church in Japan to be like churches in America. &nbsp;We are to respect their culture and to let them do things the way they want to do it. &nbsp;I sometimes lose focus on that and forget that. &nbsp;Then become frustrated. &nbsp;But always good to remember. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>The night before, however, we traveled by bus to Nihama. &nbsp;We arrived at the apartment around 10pm. &nbsp;We were exhausted. &nbsp;We only got less than 3 hours of sleep that night. &nbsp;Hamilton shimai and I kept waking up due to circumstances outside of our control. Heat. One futon. Hard floors. &nbsp;But there were 6 shimai sleeping in an apartment meant for 2. &nbsp;yeah. &nbsp;Then that morning we get up at 5 to catch a 3 1/2 train ride to Okayama. &nbsp;We barely caught it because Hamilton shimai and I stopped by a convenie to get breakfast. Good thing we did because we didn't eat until 4:30 that afternoon back in Matsuyama. &nbsp;So pretty much I looked like a mess at the "Meet the kaicho conference" &nbsp;Yeah! &nbsp;But I was somewhat focused. &nbsp;I loved how in the middle of the night, I'm just laying there and all of a sudden, Hamilton shimai, who's sleeping right next to me, raises her arm to check the time and I hit her and she's totally surprised and I ask what time is it. &nbsp;Then we continue to stare at the ceiling. &nbsp;Gotta love sleepless nights.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Then on the fourth of July we ended up teaching 3 lessons. &nbsp;The first one was this 30 min english 30 min message lesson. &nbsp;The deal is that we teach english for 30 min then share a 30 min message about our church. &nbsp;The woman we taught is catholic. &nbsp;She also teaches children english. &nbsp;She needs a little help with her pronunciation and she knows it. &nbsp;(thus she's meeting with us). &nbsp;She's really nice though. &nbsp;She gave us these watered down vinegar drinks with fresh mint. &nbsp;Interesting taste. &nbsp;Then she wanted us to help teach her the song from frozen. &nbsp;It was the first time I've ever heard that song and I wasn't sure what to do because the first side of me was like "GAH, real music!" and then the other part of me is "wow, Idina Mendel still sounds really good. I like this song" &nbsp;I have no idea what the movie is about but I figure I'll see it when I get back. &nbsp;This woman though had a really interesting image of God. &nbsp;She views Him as really huge and that when she stands next to Him, she barely makes it past His ankle bone. He also has really cool infinite robes going forever. &nbsp;Good stuff. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Then we taught our lovely shigansha about Jesus Christ. &nbsp;She is 86 years old. &nbsp;Her daughter is a member. &nbsp;Her baptismal date is for next year in May. &nbsp;She doesn't really remember anything, thus we teach her Jesus Christ every time we meet. &nbsp;Mostly because her daughter says that when she remembers Jesus Christ and desires eternal life then she can be baptized. &nbsp;So we'll teach about our Savior Jesus Christ, who He is, how He overcame sin and death for us, and that we can receive eternal life through following Him. &nbsp;Good stuff. &nbsp;Afterwards the daughter feed us dinner of Chicken, rice, egg salad sandwhiches, cole slaw, and some clam chowder from Costco :). &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>That night we taught another Less Active about how the gospel can bless her family and help her. &nbsp;She really wants to receive the gospel blessings but has difficulty balancing her life between her husband and her son and her job as a nurse. &nbsp;(not many people are as strong as you are mom :) )</div><div><br /></div><div>The next day we celebrated the 4th of July by eating some udon! &nbsp;So good! However, next time we go out I think we'll go to a mom and pop restaurant. &nbsp;Those are ALWAYS the best. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Last night was also a really cool thunder storm. &nbsp;So cool it woke me up at 4:30 in the morning. &nbsp;And I couldn't fall back asleep until about 5. &nbsp;But it's been hot, rainy and humid all day. &nbsp;It's officially summer. &nbsp;The humidity was almost sufficating. &nbsp;But all good. &nbsp;Now I just have another excuse to eat more ice cream! &nbsp;To replace my salt and to cool off! &nbsp;Yeah!</div><div><br /></div><div>Love Always,&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Bevan Shimai</div><div><br /></div><div>Photos: A shikoku sunset, my camera doesn't do it justice</div><div>Traveling fun on Thursday. &nbsp;It wouldn't be pronounced how you'd think it would</div><div>Yes... look at us.. we're HAPPY. &nbsp;We LOVE dendo</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GSDfB9J8IK8/U8jB6yVq3CI/AAAAAAAABp8/0wnNLa-QZqA/s1600/IMG_1663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GSDfB9J8IK8/U8jB6yVq3CI/AAAAAAAABp8/0wnNLa-QZqA/s1600/IMG_1663.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zwdrdxwWcEM/U8jB8n-MXtI/AAAAAAAABqE/3XiHA9WlB2I/s1600/IMG_1669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zwdrdxwWcEM/U8jB8n-MXtI/AAAAAAAABqE/3XiHA9WlB2I/s1600/IMG_1669.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C7w5CbN_EWw/U8jB8yYo3GI/AAAAAAAABqI/VxbD8Ff4Z8k/s1600/IMG_1670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C7w5CbN_EWw/U8jB8yYo3GI/AAAAAAAABqI/VxbD8Ff4Z8k/s1600/IMG_1670.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-16699327963766411342014-07-06T11:58:00.000-07:002014-07-06T11:58:24.712-07:00Saving souls. Saving dogs!<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Konnichiwa!</div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week has been more interesting than usual. &nbsp;I only say that because this week as we were visiting less actives, we finally met this one less active who we've previously tried to contact 3-4 times (?) &nbsp;We knock on his door, kind of expecting not to hear an answer, however we hear a "wait a minute!" &nbsp;What? &nbsp;There's someone home?! &nbsp;So one minute... 2 minutes... 5 minutes... 7 minutes go by.. no answer yet. &nbsp;We decide to knock again. This person is finally home, we are not leaving. &nbsp;Just as Elder Ballard said, "one thing I've learned from my mission is that persistence is the key".. anyway.<div><br /></div><div>We knock again and he finally comes to the window of his apartment. &nbsp;To which he promptly says "I don't know you. Go away." &nbsp;At this point, we're not sure if the less active person is this said person or if they have moved... So we somewhat hesistantly knock because we have no confirming information.... This time he comes to the door. &nbsp;A bead of sweat falls down my brow. &nbsp;He comes out saying "You're really loud and annoying! &nbsp;What are you doing?! I don't know you! &nbsp;Go away. &nbsp;Go home!" He first shoves Hamilton shimai and she just promptly walks behind me. &nbsp;I can tell she is NOT happy. &nbsp;She did it for his protection. &nbsp;Then he starts to shove me away. &nbsp;But Hamilton shimai and I introduce ourselves as missionaries for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints to which he promptly replies "There are no sisters in Matsuyama. &nbsp;There's no such thing as sisters in Matsuyama."&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>My companion and I just hold up our badges saying, "It's true" ( I was thinking "read it and weep"). Then we ask if he was said person. He says he is. Great... So we promptly turn around and say "sorry we were rude" and leave. &nbsp;We practically ran down the stairs to the bicycle parking.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>While I was looking up the new adress of another less active to visit (we have gps in our fancy flip phones), I see him come down the stairs in the corner of my eye. I turn and I see him standing and staring at us, as if expecting us to leave. &nbsp;Hamilton shimai and I just look at each other and quickly grab our bikes and said "sorry, we're returning promptly" &nbsp;But then his continence changes. &nbsp;And he says "You had something you wanted me to hear. &nbsp;You were pretty rude, you're american aren't you?" &nbsp;and he talks to us completely civily and politely. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We set up an appointment for today. &nbsp;However, he stood us up. :/ &nbsp;Such is the life of a missionary. &nbsp;We're going to try and visit him again this week... maybe..&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Saturday. &nbsp;We are out in the wonderful country town of Toon Shi (It's to like toe) or 東温市 (shi means city) &nbsp;and we are trying to find this less active when we see this dog come running behind us. &nbsp;He runs out into the street and nearly gets hit by a truck. &nbsp;So hamilton shimai goes and gets it, picks it up and goes around from house to house trying to find the owner. &nbsp;However, no such luck. &nbsp;So we ask a mother and her daughter for directions as to what we should do. &nbsp;She told us to take it to the police. &nbsp;Then Hamilton shimai and I put the dog in my basket, drive out to the police station fill out some paper work and then we left. &nbsp;2 minutes later we saw the dog in the back of a police car. &nbsp;Gotta love being a country policeman. &nbsp;But all in a days work for a missionary. &nbsp;Saving souls. Saving dogs.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday. In the third hour, with the combined relief society and priesthood, the first counselor talked about less actives and the list the missionaries created of those who have a positive interest (about 65 people) &nbsp;This list can double the amount of people in the branch easily, turning it into a ward! &nbsp;We'll see what the branch will do with this list. &nbsp;But last week, we got some treats from the branch. &nbsp;Last monday we found mint pocky's, come chocolate and melon hi-chews with a thank you note from the branch. &nbsp;We wrote a thank you note back.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Then today, while we were grocery shopping, this woman walks up to me and starts to ask about us, why we're in Japan and asks if we teach English. &nbsp;We switch numbers. &nbsp;Later today she calls us and sets up an appointment for Friday. &nbsp;We were intending on calling her tonight. &nbsp;But I guess that was too long! This is a first.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Then we went to a recycle shop today (found a really cute summer dress) and outside in the parking lot, I say hello to this woman who is about to leave on her motor bike. &nbsp;And we just start to talk and she says that she wants her children to learn english but that pronunciation is really hard in english. &nbsp;We give her a chirashi and I really hope she comes next week. &nbsp;Unfortunately we have to cancel Eikaiwa this week because we have to travel up to Niihama wednesday night for the "meet the president taikai" on Thursday in Okayama. &nbsp;I am disappointed. &nbsp;I love teaching English. Especially to help them understand english or when they stop saying their "s" with a "sh". &nbsp;Good stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div>Things are well. &nbsp;Love the work. LOVE my companion. &nbsp;We definitely don't take each other too seriously. Come on, how many companionships sing Queen's "Bicycle" while riding our bikes. &nbsp;Good stuff :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Love always,&nbsp;</div><div>Bevan 姉妹</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pVwqYxIWLJA/U7ma7aIsq3I/AAAAAAAABnE/s89ypfawrfA/s1600/IMG_1647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pVwqYxIWLJA/U7ma7aIsq3I/AAAAAAAABnE/s89ypfawrfA/s1600/IMG_1647.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QLIb2uSla64/U7ma7slSVCI/AAAAAAAABnI/BV6fEVHzZ00/s1600/IMG_1649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QLIb2uSla64/U7ma7slSVCI/AAAAAAAABnI/BV6fEVHzZ00/s1600/IMG_1649.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TyHMDr1vu5o/U7mb3tkwLII/AAAAAAAABnc/8APGYHixaJU/s1600/IMG_1638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TyHMDr1vu5o/U7mb3tkwLII/AAAAAAAABnc/8APGYHixaJU/s1600/IMG_1638.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saving dogs and souls in Japan!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-10245971173668363292014-06-28T14:36:00.000-07:002014-06-28T14:36:50.077-07:00Mold is as common as cement in Japan!<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Greetings!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">This week was actually a lot of paper work. &nbsp;We worked on creating and organizing lists: a list of people for the ward members &nbsp;to visit, another list of people that needed visiting/home teachers assigned and a list of those who would like invitations to church activities. &nbsp;There are about 70 people on these lists! &nbsp;All these people could more than double the branch. Hamilton shimai and I hope to help the members be more motivated to take the time to visit and call those who haven't been coming to church. &nbsp;I've learned that in order for things to happen, a vision is required. &nbsp;If people don't have vision, nothing is going to happen or at least great things won't. &nbsp;Hamilton shimai and I have a goal to help expand the vision of the branch members here in Matsuyama and to help bring these lost sheep back into the fold. &nbsp;</span></span><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">We had a great time with Tsujimoto shimai this week. We got to teach quite a bit together. &nbsp;And we even got to drive around with a member to go and visit less actives this week. &nbsp;At first it was quiet. &nbsp;However, we started asking him some questions and got to know him quite a bit. &nbsp;He's a counselor in the branch presidency. &nbsp;He's been a member since the 70s. &nbsp;Before, I considered him to be quite serious cause he's always looking serious up there on the stand. &nbsp;But turns out he's hilarious and we contacted a number of less actives with him. &nbsp;It was raining that day so I was grateful for the car :)</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">We also got to teach with Tsujimoto shimai and she was SO helpful with the work when she was staying with us. &nbsp;On thursday we went up to imabari at a meeting point and dropped her off. &nbsp;She and Beane shimai then spent Saturday night with us because of the branch conference and the Sunday's District conference.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">We then got to teach our lovely elderly investigator on Saturday. &nbsp;Her daughter is a member and has been meeting with the missionaries for quite some time. &nbsp;Our obachan loves having the missionaries over and meeting with us. &nbsp;She looks forward to meeting us. &nbsp;She is 86 years old. &nbsp;Her short term memory is gone. &nbsp;Once we met her Sunday evening and she didn't remember that she went to church that day. Her daughter's main concern is that her mother isn't able to remember anything in order to have a testimony or to desire baptism. &nbsp;However, through discussions with the daughter, we decided that we would work together to help prepare her mom to be baptized May of 2015. &nbsp;It's the longest baptismal date I've ever set. &nbsp;About 11 months away. &nbsp;I think our obachan will be ready by then.. I hope.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">One of our less active friends that we are meeting missed her goal to be active again. &nbsp;So we talked with her and tried to figure out what she is struggling with. &nbsp;She didn't really say. &nbsp;But she says that she believes she can be active by October. &nbsp;She made a deal with Hamilton shimai that she would be active by the time Hamilton Shimai returns back to the states (scary!!!) &nbsp;This week we're going to try and figure out what's going on behind the scenes. &nbsp;Why she has so much difficulty in coming to church. &nbsp;I'm praying that Heavenly Father will bless us with the gift of discernment. &nbsp;I really want to understand her and what she's saying. &nbsp;And then be able to help her. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Well, it's officially summer and today, being preparation day, we decided to try to clean the mold off of our futons. &nbsp;It just started to recently grow and unfortunately, mold is common as cement in Japan. &nbsp;So we go to the drug store and ask if they have anything to kill the mold on futons. &nbsp;We thought "Hey, Japan has been sleeping on futons for thousands of years. &nbsp;They are sure to have something to specifically kill the little spores." Nope, no such thing. &nbsp;So instead, we bought some color safe bleach thinking it would kill it. &nbsp;No luck... So we moved on to the hard core, chlorinated bleach. &nbsp;Worked like a charm. &nbsp;Let it sit for a good 10-15 sec and it was gone like the oxy clean commercials. &nbsp;I love chemicals!! So now we have clean futons. &nbsp;Bring it on summer! &nbsp;It still is not as crazy hot as it was last year. &nbsp;I'm just waiting for my sweat to just come pouring down. &nbsp;Like rain. &nbsp;Poor Hamilton shimai - her body temp runs hot all the time - so now she is extra hot! &nbsp;Sitting next to her in church this week I could feel the heat radiating off of her arms!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">We had our farewell meeting with the Zinke's. It was really fun! I am sad to see them go, I will miss them both so much. &nbsp;I love President and Sister Zinke - they have taught me so much! &nbsp; He has helped all of us in the Kobe Japan mission become True Disciples of Christ. &nbsp;I am also looking forward to meeting our new mission president, Welch Kaicho and his wife Welch Shimai this next week. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Here's a scripture I found this week that I really like -&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">D+C 101:14&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning [Japan]; for all flesh is in mine&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">hands</span><span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">; be still and&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">know</span><span style="background-color: #fefbbf; color: #2f393a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">&nbsp;that I am God.</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">In the scriptures I never realized how often God has to say to us "I am God, you are not" "I am all knowing, all merciful, all powerful, all loving God. You are not" &nbsp;How often do we forget this? &nbsp;Thinking that He's not involved in our lives or that He doesn't care. &nbsp;This is a lie. &nbsp;Because He is. &nbsp;He does truely love us individually and is more involved than we can every know. &nbsp;He's got everything under control. &nbsp;He's going to help you. &nbsp;If you're doing your part, you have His promise. &nbsp;What more could we ask for. &nbsp;If we are keeping the commandments and doing our best to become more Christ like, guess what, everything is going to work out. &nbsp;Trust in this. &nbsp;Heavenly Father will strengthen you. &nbsp;You are never alone. &nbsp;Pray. Ask in faith and wait. &nbsp;Be still and know that He is God.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Love always, Bevan Shimai</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sQJ4xtADcDU/U68vMr3vvtI/AAAAAAAABmM/SxJzx94Kcqg/s1600/IMG_1236%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sQJ4xtADcDU/U68vMr3vvtI/AAAAAAAABmM/SxJzx94Kcqg/s1600/IMG_1236%255B1%255D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Study desk for 2!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KmThD6RlUhg/U68vMdLzn6I/AAAAAAAABmE/oirC6VFgXus/s1600/IMG_1239%255B1%255D-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KmThD6RlUhg/U68vMdLzn6I/AAAAAAAABmE/oirC6VFgXus/s1600/IMG_1239%255B1%255D-1.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our kitchen -semi presentable for the photo shoot!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIAxapP80vk/U68vMi4QCEI/AAAAAAAABmQ/CDtmpkKtmLY/s1600/IMG_1243%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIAxapP80vk/U68vMi4QCEI/AAAAAAAABmQ/CDtmpkKtmLY/s1600/IMG_1243%255B1%255D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Konnichiwa!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xu5Vu8W_2Zw/U68wIUxEp4I/AAAAAAAABmw/7_WR_rUtqwo/s1600/IMG_1621%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xu5Vu8W_2Zw/U68wIUxEp4I/AAAAAAAABmw/7_WR_rUtqwo/s1600/IMG_1621%255B1%255D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xG2hmeX0OT0/U68wJKyt9kI/AAAAAAAABm4/NgM1CcR88XU/s1600/IMG_1623%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xG2hmeX0OT0/U68wJKyt9kI/AAAAAAAABm4/NgM1CcR88XU/s1600/IMG_1623%255B1%255D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-59493876546527017392014-06-28T13:29:00.001-07:002014-06-28T13:45:05.101-07:00The love language of Japan is gifts<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Hi Everyone!</div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">So the transfer letter states that I get to stay in Matsuyama again with hamilton shimai! &nbsp;I am so excited. Zinke Kaicho does listen to onegai's!!! Prayers are answered. <br /><div><br /></div><div>I love how Heavenly Father loves to try our faith. &nbsp;That's how it's been these past couple weeks. &nbsp;We were flying the first 4 transfers together, new investigators every week and people coming to church. &nbsp;Now things are a lot slower. Things not going as smoothly. &nbsp;A lot of people slamming doors in our faces. We are exhausted. &nbsp;I will take a nap at lunch, wake up and I feel no different than when I fell asleep. &nbsp;I rise from the dead every morning. &nbsp;Hamilton shimai has to wake me up because I sleep through the alarm. &nbsp;(I'm still up at 6:30, don't worry).&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Despite our struggles, Hamilton shimai and I have decided not to complain. &nbsp;We are going to chose to be faithful. &nbsp;We are going to have faith that no one, member or not, will frustrate the work. &nbsp;That our weaknesses will not frustrate the work. &nbsp;We will just trust in Him that when we finish visiting all these less actives and confirming their interest that the members will not ignore all of our efforts for the past 6 months. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>But today we get to be in a trio for the next few days with a tsujimoto shimai. &nbsp;Her companion is returning back to the states (owens shimai) and so she gets to hang out in matsuyama with us until the transfer. &nbsp;We'll show her how to have some fun. ;) &nbsp;I am also excited to have a nihonjin in the apartment. &nbsp;Now I can check to see if my Japanese is normal or dictionarized (I hope not). &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>This past week we met with an investigator. &nbsp;We've been meeting with him for the past few weeks but we had to drop him the other day. &nbsp;We saw his record in the area book and he seemed golden: wanted to change, wanted to follow the commandments again, remembered his baptism, believes in Christ and Heavenly Father. &nbsp;So we visit his house. &nbsp;The first time he wasn't home but his mom was super nice and asked us to call and set something up. &nbsp;So we call and set an appointment to meet. &nbsp;The first time we met we tried to talk to him about his baptism, first meeting the missionaries and what he remembered about church. &nbsp;Instead he wanted to talk about American politics, continued to interupt us and discuss things that absolutely no relation to what we were trying to express. &nbsp;However, he said he wanted to change and to start a new life. &nbsp;Just not through christ but through himself.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>So the second time we meet, we brought a member who was aparently a really good friend of his. &nbsp;But it ended up becoming a distraction. &nbsp;He just wanted to talk to his friend the whole time. &nbsp;When we brought up him wanting to change, he looked us straight in the eyes and said "I never said that". &nbsp;What's even stranger was the fuinki of the air while waiting for our member to join us. &nbsp;Both Hamilton shimai and I felt like "be careful." &nbsp;We were both on edge. &nbsp;However, once our melchezidek priesthood holder came, everything felt ok and we tried to teach again. &nbsp;But he continued to interupt and had no interest in listening. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>3rd time. &nbsp;We asked the chorotachi to come and see if they wanted to take him. Mostly because he likes the missionaries and enjoys talking at us. &nbsp;However, the chorotachi bailed last minute and so Hamilton shimai and I, already exhausted go into this lesson, not sure what to expect. &nbsp;His mom however, is really nice, loves the missionaries and you can tell she's worried about her son. &nbsp;We go in and start to talk however he goes on to say that he thinks our motives aren't pure that we have alternative motives. &nbsp;When he said that I felt this inner energy inside of me just take hold of my tongue as I told him, "That is a bad thought. &nbsp;That is not our purpose at all. &nbsp;We come here out of love. &nbsp;We want to help you. &nbsp;We want you to be happy." However he retorted that he liked being sad. &nbsp;Who likes being sad? &nbsp;How sad is that?</div><div><br /></div><div>However his mom loves to give us food. &nbsp;The love language of japan is gifts. &nbsp;So she really wanted us to eat her curry. Hamilton shimai and I weren't hungry at all but we gave in and accepted her curry. &nbsp;While we were trying to politely refuse, our investigator asks us "Why don't you eat? Are you dieting? &nbsp;OH! I see, you have the boyfriend in America whom you want to stay pretty for. &nbsp;Well, you can eat now and not eat tomorrow!" &nbsp;Hamilton shimai and I tried to withold our laughter. &nbsp;No, actually, I just burst out laughing.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>To close, he said, "Do you want to know who I really am?" Hamilton shimai and I just look at each other and say "sure!" &nbsp;He then started to compare himself to a circle with 5 markings. &nbsp;And Hamilton shimai and I nearly panic. &nbsp;And then continued to say that he was a clock and started to go into some sort of thing with secret codes and math that I don't understand. Weird.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>His mom is super nice though. She always gives us a whole bag of food at the end. And chocolate :) &nbsp;So we may just stop by every once in awhile. &nbsp;His mom seems to have interest in the gospel. &nbsp;We'll see.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We ate at a members house the other week for a branch activity. &nbsp;We went to go see the fireflies. &nbsp;Fireflies are super cool by the way. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Members here just give us a little bit of food each week that we split evenly with the chorotachi. &nbsp;This past week there were two bags of onions so chorotachi got one bag and we got the other!</div><div><br /></div><div>No baptismal prospects yet. &nbsp;A lot of the members/less actives are older. &nbsp;In fact a majority of our investigators are obachans. But there is one hope. She is the mother of a member of the branch. &nbsp;She doesn't remember anything. &nbsp;But her daughter said that if she can remember Christ, she can be baptized. &nbsp;We're working with what we can.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for all of your love and support. &nbsp;Happy Father's day!</div><div><br /></div><div>Bevan Shimai</div><div><br /></div><div>P.S We had a thunderstorm last week. &nbsp;I got some cool photos</div></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bmR8Xf6maWg/U68lFHhygxI/AAAAAAAABlc/DYQOqoWUc7E/s1600/IMG_1552%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bmR8Xf6maWg/U68lFHhygxI/AAAAAAAABlc/DYQOqoWUc7E/s1600/IMG_1552%5B1%5D.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rice Fields</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8WMfiMMP6dM/U68lF4dR3qI/AAAAAAAABlk/Dvlo8_3CnNQ/s1600/IMG_1582%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8WMfiMMP6dM/U68lF4dR3qI/AAAAAAAABlk/Dvlo8_3CnNQ/s1600/IMG_1582%5B1%5D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool thunderstorm pics!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PC7prF-wYKI/U68lDzGB0gI/AAAAAAAABlU/ccL9X1phEwg/s1600/IMG_1594%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PC7prF-wYKI/U68lDzGB0gI/AAAAAAAABlU/ccL9X1phEwg/s1600/IMG_1594%5B1%5D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMySselFKsI/U68lHHBQE2I/AAAAAAAABls/_qXk8OujMoc/s1600/IMG_1605%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMySselFKsI/U68lHHBQE2I/AAAAAAAABls/_qXk8OujMoc/s1600/IMG_1605%5B1%5D.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you Mimi for my new skirt!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-49438504556095179512014-06-11T22:16:00.000-07:002014-06-11T22:18:34.426-07:00Finding joy in the moments of your day<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Konnichiwa mina san!<div><br /></div><div>This week has been awesome. &nbsp;It's also been hot. &nbsp;If you want a comparison. &nbsp;I'd compare it to Florida. &nbsp;Hot and muggy. &nbsp;It's also rainy season. &nbsp;Which means sometimes we'll be spontaneously rained on while out and about and then getting soaked.. but still hot. &nbsp;So now you're just hot, sweaty and wet. &nbsp;Yeah! Rainy Season!</div><div><br /></div><div>We had the Zinke farewell last week after Zone Conference. &nbsp;I'm actually going to say a few things about this conference because I really liked it. &nbsp; The purposes behind Zone conference is to delete the middle man of the district leader and just have the zone leaders give the training they received from Zinke Kaicho. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We talked about finding joy in the work. &nbsp;And one thing that one of my zone leaders, Downing choro, said that really struck me was "Happiness isn't falling exhausted into your futon at night, it's finding joy in the moments during the day" &nbsp;That really changed my perspective. &nbsp;Before, I thought that I was happy if I went out, gave everything that I could, came home absolutely exhausted. &nbsp;Now I'm just exhausted no matter what I do. &nbsp;(You should see the circles under my eyes ;) ) However, he's right. &nbsp;The true joy that I have felt from missionary work was from my investigators, my friends, the ward members, my companions, from others. &nbsp;True joy came when I just forgot my stress and just focused on what was good, on others. &nbsp;When they understood. &nbsp;When they had a greater understanding and desire for eternal life. When they realized why Jesus Christ is so important. &nbsp;When they wanted to come to church and came!</div><div><br /></div><div>They also discussed "True Conversion" and what that means, which I also loved. &nbsp;What does it mean to be "truly converted"? &nbsp;Does it mean you just go through the motions of a member waiting until you die so that you can finally be happy? &nbsp;No, I should certainly hope not. &nbsp;I think it means that you stay true to you, your Heavenly Father and your beliefs no matter what. &nbsp;Forgiveness comes first when misunderstandings occur. &nbsp; That God comes first in your life. &nbsp;You know and understand and act upon the most important things in life (The gospel, your spouse and family) &nbsp;We then discussed more as a zone how we can become more truly converted. &nbsp;It starts with the basic things that we hear all the time: prayer, scripture study, and church. &nbsp; Because that's what is the foundation for our testimony. &nbsp;If we're not doing one of the three then there will be holes in our testimony, our foundation and when adversity comes, it may or may not continue to stand. &nbsp;I don't want that risk. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I know what has not only brought me true joy and satisfaction in my life, but what will bring me happiness into the eternities. &nbsp;What else can strengthen our testimony/our true conversion? &nbsp;We can start by filling the holes. &nbsp;We all know our testimonies best, except for our Heavenly Father. &nbsp;He knows everything. &nbsp;But we know where we're lacking. &nbsp;Maybe we're not as solid in our faith in Christ, or God. &nbsp;Well, you know what to do. &nbsp;Go, study, and pray for that faith. &nbsp;I know Heavenly Father will bless you with the testimony you desire. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Ok, so then the Zinkes come that afternoon and just sit down and chat. &nbsp;It was the same feeling as like a family getting together for family home evening. &nbsp;Opening song and everything. &nbsp;We asked any questions we wanted. &nbsp;Found out more about the inside workings of the mission. &nbsp;More about what's going to happen when the switch happens. &nbsp;It will be sad to see them go. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Today we also visited this giant buddhist monk statue and the local ishite ji jinja. &nbsp;Very pretty. &nbsp;The most colorful jinja I've been to. &nbsp;It also has a bone of Bhudda. &nbsp;cool stuff. &nbsp;And there's an awesome statue of a girl on a dragon in the front of the jinja... Just sayin'. &nbsp;Love Japanese culture. &nbsp;Love the people. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks again for your love,&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Bevan Shimai</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-10tW8gyHcgs/U5k0vqKXVOI/AAAAAAAABkE/vIX7QRFvols/s1600/IMG_1489%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-10tW8gyHcgs/U5k0vqKXVOI/AAAAAAAABkE/vIX7QRFvols/s1600/IMG_1489%5B1%5D.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant Buddhist monk statue</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NioOq4coO9g/U5k0z-DTTOI/AAAAAAAABkU/0p53piIAsB8/s1600/IMG_1492%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NioOq4coO9g/U5k0z-DTTOI/AAAAAAAABkU/0p53piIAsB8/s1600/IMG_1492%5B1%5D.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dbPwRwPo96U/U5k0xmqIT-I/AAAAAAAABkM/LN7zYpYf8Fw/s1600/IMG_1498%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dbPwRwPo96U/U5k0xmqIT-I/AAAAAAAABkM/LN7zYpYf8Fw/s1600/IMG_1498%5B1%5D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hamilton Shimai and I</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0UMP54gv5gg/U5k02xHiEiI/AAAAAAAABkc/jVnfv8uooxA/s1600/IMG_1503%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0UMP54gv5gg/U5k02xHiEiI/AAAAAAAABkc/jVnfv8uooxA/s1600/IMG_1503%5B1%5D.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girl on a dragon at the entrance to the jinja</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hECG1ssblm4/U5k036fSiTI/AAAAAAAABkk/qnBvQbBl6_o/s1600/IMG_1545%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hECG1ssblm4/U5k036fSiTI/AAAAAAAABkk/qnBvQbBl6_o/s1600/IMG_1545%5B1%5D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107796918881606471.post-6520044211042620912014-06-05T23:35:00.003-07:002014-06-05T23:37:16.206-07:002nd best jo in all of Japan! <span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Konnichiwa!</span><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">How's everyone doing? &nbsp;I am always surprised how fast the weeks go by. &nbsp;I cannot believe I'm entering week 4 of this transfer. &nbsp;It has been too much fun with Hamilton shimai. &nbsp;She's hilarious, down to earth, and actually a lot like dad. Very logical ;) &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week, nothing too interesting happened. &nbsp;We had as a goal in the mission to have 500 people come to church this past sunday. &nbsp;We didn't make it, but we still did a good job. &nbsp;We ended up having 7 people come to our ward. &nbsp;I was very surprised. &nbsp;Mostly because Hamilton shimai and I had completely forgotten...because we were teaching every single day. (what?! I guess we're just great focused missionaries) but the members had invited a good amount of people and some less actives came. &nbsp;All together very good. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Today for preparation day we went to the Matsuyama Jo. &nbsp;Apparently it's the 2nd best jo in all of Japan. &nbsp;I don't know what's the first (Himeji?) But it was so cool! &nbsp;Hamilton shimai and I put on the samurai armor and battled it out. &nbsp;Did I mention that she is a second degree black belt in tae kwan do? &nbsp;Yeah, good stuff. &nbsp;So whenever we get really stressed we can just take it out on each other right? &nbsp;(Sarah studied tae kwon do at BYU for about 18 mos before her mission - I don't remember which belt she has - lol)&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">The castle is up on the mountain, so we took this chair lift, with no seat belts, up to the top. &nbsp;It was crazy! &nbsp;Then we walked around the grounds and took lots of panoramic photos because you can see all of Matsuyama and then some. &nbsp;The castle kind of reminded me of the gamble house, because it's all built of wood and the beams are puzzle pieced to stick and to reinforce. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">But this past week was crazy busy, I am definitely counting my blessings. There are huge bags underneath Hamilton shimai and my eyes. &nbsp;It's comforting that the chorotachi do as well. &nbsp;Meaning, it's definitely normal to be exhausted every single day. &nbsp;Only lasting due to the grace of our Heavenly Father. &nbsp;It's been pretty bad though, I completely slept through the morning alarm, so did Hamilton shimai. &nbsp;Didn't hear it go off. &nbsp;Yeah... felt pretty bad. &nbsp;We're going to change that. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">However, last night, a family in the branch invited the whole branch to come to their house, eat food, and then go and see the fireflies. &nbsp;Fireflies are gorgeous! &nbsp;Not the actual bug. &nbsp;But it creates such a nice atmosphere. &nbsp;Impossible to take a photo of and capture the fuinki of the look. &nbsp;So magical! &nbsp;It reminded me of some sort of enchanted forest. &nbsp;I'm so grateful for the beauty of this earth and the chemical phenomenons that Heavenly Father has created.&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">While I've been in Matsuyama, through the strength and guidance of our Heavenly Father, we were able to find 2 new investigators this week but at least one new investigator every week since I've been here. &nbsp;That has never happened before. &nbsp;And I know it's not me. &nbsp;I'm not that good at dendo. &nbsp;These two sisters were previous investigators who are once more willing to hear our Heavenly Father's message about how we can return to our loving Heavenly Father once more and be eternally happy!</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">This week is the farewell conference for the Zinke's. &nbsp;They are packing up and leaving. &nbsp;It'll only be an hour after our Zone taikai. &nbsp;Should be good. &nbsp;They will say good bye to all the missionaries and then leave on the 28th. &nbsp;Welch kaicho comes on the 27th. &nbsp;They come to the honbu and then the next morning receive 3 hours of training and then the Zinkes leave. &nbsp;I would be so scared. &nbsp;Thank goodness the Lord is on our side and that revelation is real. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Hope all is well state side. &nbsp;Hope every one is healthy and happy. &nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Love always,&nbsp;</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Bevan Shimai</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_stkpZ0fpg/U5Ff65ii6lI/AAAAAAAABjA/bwki7OpC4Bw/s1600/IMG_1330%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_stkpZ0fpg/U5Ff65ii6lI/AAAAAAAABjA/bwki7OpC4Bw/s1600/IMG_1330%5B1%5D.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tram ride to Matsuyama jo! No seat belts but there is a handy net?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mgWlgwmJPlQ/U5Ff5W7-riI/AAAAAAAABi0/S-SmGJQRz-M/s1600/IMG_1336%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mgWlgwmJPlQ/U5Ff5W7-riI/AAAAAAAABi0/S-SmGJQRz-M/s1600/IMG_1336%5B1%5D.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uh, that's a long way down!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ShXRDtfUhQ0/U5Ff7AXWIwI/AAAAAAAABi8/_ZYUEEmxuJA/s1600/IMG_1340%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ShXRDtfUhQ0/U5Ff7AXWIwI/AAAAAAAABi8/_ZYUEEmxuJA/s1600/IMG_1340%5B1%5D.jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samurai chorro and shimai!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--yhSBkB9mRA/U5Ff9aPPUcI/AAAAAAAABjM/nZ0dxFG5n28/s1600/IMG_1376%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--yhSBkB9mRA/U5Ff9aPPUcI/AAAAAAAABjM/nZ0dxFG5n28/s1600/IMG_1376%5B1%5D.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hamilton &amp; Bevan shimai</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e2oMe72zYQg/U5FgBAwyRnI/AAAAAAAABjc/nSjUsK-pOQo/s1600/IMG_1382%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e2oMe72zYQg/U5FgBAwyRnI/AAAAAAAABjc/nSjUsK-pOQo/s1600/IMG_1382%5B1%5D.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matsuyama jo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z_OZgwWRVH4/U5Ff_Th-NtI/AAAAAAAABjU/JM_Efz5LUcA/s1600/IMG_1439%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z_OZgwWRVH4/U5Ff_Th-NtI/AAAAAAAABjU/JM_Efz5LUcA/s1600/IMG_1439%5B1%5D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chorro samurai</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kb8AQ5r6CDA/U5FgCCc1MTI/AAAAAAAABjg/mQ1LE0HYZMs/s1600/IMG_1444%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kb8AQ5r6CDA/U5FgCCc1MTI/AAAAAAAABjg/mQ1LE0HYZMs/s1600/IMG_1444%5B1%5D.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A1nSX4LHNYU/U5FgDjdPvlI/AAAAAAAABjs/PiPlbY3akX8/s1600/IMG_1445%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A1nSX4LHNYU/U5FgDjdPvlI/AAAAAAAABjs/PiPlbY3akX8/s1600/IMG_1445%5B1%5D.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out my new attire! &nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7J7NrtCGbOI/U5FgE0pSOyI/AAAAAAAABj0/zZ0dHkwFwDU/s1600/IMG_1454%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7J7NrtCGbOI/U5FgE0pSOyI/AAAAAAAABj0/zZ0dHkwFwDU/s1600/IMG_1454%5B1%5D.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Matsuyama from the top of the jo! &nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div>Katie Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15289265913124106085noreply@blogger.com